Newcastle City maintain unbeaten record with comeback win over Marlins

ALL conquering Newcastle City are the team to beat in this year’s AFL Hunter Central Coast Black Diamond Senior Men’s Cup competition.

The much-vaunted City outfit staved off a strong challenge from a spirited Nelson Bay Marlins line up to maintain their undefeated status with a hard fought 115-66 win last Saturday at Dick Burwell Oval.
It was a sixth successive victory for the 2026 premiership pacesetters, who turned on the style in a slick second half performance.

Key forwards Jackson Crawford and Jason Pongracic booted four goals each as Newcastle stormed home with twelve six-pointers after the half time interval.

City piled on 45 points in a vital third quarter to lead 80-52.

Nelson Bay were on track for a memorable victory over City on their home turf when they kicked seven goals to lead 18-15 at the end of the first quarter and 39-35 at the half time interval.

Club legend Louis Dews produced an inspirational performance with solid support from Jayden Baldwin-Rymer, Andrew McConnell, Sam Norton, Hudson Roche and Jason Carey.

Hunter Central Coast representative forward and Marlins skipper Billy Barton booted three crucial goals and radar Roche a double to keep Nelson Bay in the hunt.

But the Newcastle kingpins showed their class in the second period with top displays from Crawford and Pongracic, skipper Jack Lanyon, Jack Woodhams, Tom Burke, Noah MacDonald, Finnbarr Hurley and Grady Slocombe, Jordan Dear and Max Quinlan, who each bagged goal doubles.

Fifth ranked Nelson Bay host sixth placed Maitland Saints this Saturday at Dick Burwell Oval from 2pm.

In Black Diamond Senior Women’s Cup action, Warners Bay Bulldogs downed Nelson Bay 56-25 with top games from Marlins’ warriors Jazlyn Stevens, Annalise Norton, Milla Gainsford, Chaeli Callaghan, Charlotte Connick and Ellie Duffy.

By Chris KARAS