AFL in Newcastle/Hunter Valley (NSW)

[Lionel Lyon]

How popular is football in this region? I have never been there, but I was surprised to learn that one of the earliest ever competitions in Rules' history was played there. Unimaginable really, given my perception of this place as a RL bastion. It has a large population, too (Newcastle itself must be over 600-700K by now and, presumably, growing). Would it be worth the AFL (NOT bum-)sniffing around this neck of the woods for future opportunities?

 

[OldSchool]

Its not very popular.
There is about 10 senior teams plus reserves and two junior comps. The area consists of Newcastle and the Central Coast.
The standard is poor but the players have a go. Doubt that it will get any bigger or better.

 

[Lionel Lyon]

Originally posted by OldSchool
There is about 10 senior teams plus reserves and two junior comps. The area consists of Newcastle and the Central Coast.

What's the name of their league? I don't suppose they have a website? BTW, is Newcastle a nice place? Never been there, and it has always intrigued me.

 

[sportsfan7]

Originally posted by Lionel Lyon


What's the name of their league? I don't suppose they have a website? BTW, is Newcastle a nice place? Never been there, and it has always intrigued me.

It's calle the "Black Diamond League". Its cup is the oldest continously contested cup in AFL

 

[Lionel Lyon]

Originally posted by sportsfan7

It's calle the "Black Diamond League". Its cup is the oldest continously contested cup in AFL

http://skywebsite.com/blackdiamonda...sitebuilderpictures/blackdiamondcupphoto.jpeg

Thanks. Amazing! How did RL come to dominate the region if Football's been there for decades? Perhaps it's time to redress this historical calamity...

 

[Port Adelaide 1870]

Originally posted by sportsfan7

It's calle the "Black Diamond League". Its cup is the oldest continously contested cup in AFL

They dont play AFL in the Black Diamond league ????


They play Australian Rules.. yes ? No ?

How old is the league ? and how old is the cup played for ?

what is the history of the league

regards

PA1870

 

[sportsfan7]

Originally posted by Port Adelaide 1870


They dont play AFL in the Black Diamond league ????


They play Australian Rules.. yes ? No ?

How old is the league ? and how old is the cup played for ?

In NSW (and Qld I think) the actual game is referred to as AFL (as in "I play AFL" ) This is a marketing decision made by the AFL itself about 5-6 years ago. Don't blame me. The reason for it though is that you can't just say "footy" (ambiguous), "australian rules footy" is too long. AFL is short and familiar. We'e talking about kids chatting at school about what sport they play and things like that. Annoyed me for a while but you get used to it. (I grew up in Melbourne). Remember that footy in Sydney means the Swans so Swans, AFL and the game are inextricably linked.

The precedent is also that Rugby League is referred to as just "League" and RU often gets called "Union"

The cup dates from 1889.

http://www.skywebsite.com/blackdiamondafl/blackdiamondafl/

That's all I know

 

[Still Crowing]

Originally posted by Lionel Lyon


What's the name of their league? I don't suppose they have a website? BTW, is Newcastle a nice place? Never been there, and it has always intrigued me.

I thought Newcastle was great. I have only ever been there post BHP leaving, and I found it to be friendly, with great beaches and pubs, esp on Beaumont street. My brother used to be posted there (also in the RAN), and I was in Sydney. I would take that painful 3 hour train ride every second friday to visit, get the hell out of Sydney, and watch the Newcastle Breakers (RIP!) in the NSL. Always had a good time.

Don't think the AFL has a snowballs chance in hell in the Hunter though, not for a long long time.

 

[Latrobe]

Newcastle is a true blue working class rugby league town. They continually produce good quality footy players every year, including Andrew Johns, who is the best footy player in the world today. AFL there is passionately hated, as it is all around NSW, ACT & QLD.

 

[LordLucifer]

Originally posted by Latrobe
Newcastle is a true blue working class rugby league town. They continually produce good quality footy players every year, including Andrew Johns, who is the best footy player in the world today. AFL there is passionately hated, as it is all around NSW, ACT & QLD.

Andrew Johns is one rugby league player who I think would have been able to make the changeover to the real game. He has got good ball handling skills and his kicking is significantly better than the average rugby nuff-nuff.

Newcastle/Hunter Valley needs something else apart from the Knights, so Aussie Rules could be a way to go. Must say though, the average supporter up there are absolute boneheads, they would give the Collingwood faithful a good run for their money in that department.

 

[Ms.Storm]

More of of it again....

Originally posted by TheSheik


Andrew Johns is one rugby league player who I think would have been able to make the changeover to the real game. He has got good ball handling skills and his kicking is significantly better than the average rugby nuff-nuff.

Newcastle/Hunter Valley needs something else apart from the Knights, so Aussie Rules could be a way to go. Must say though, the average supporter up there are absolute boneheads, they would give the Collingwood faithful a good run for their money in that department.

Yes...AFL arrogance!!

I would indeed be insulted also if I was a Collingwood supporter reading your post.

I would dare to say there would be hundreds of rugby league players that could play afl and vice versa...but after reading your post I just couldn't be bothered expanding on it or even debating it with you

 

[raboyle]

I blew through Newcastle on a three-week road trip through NSW.

I didn't get to see much, although the only sites I saw were the OAK milk factory and the Rugby stadium.

Marathon Stadium, right?
Is there an Aussie Rules ground in Newcastle? And if so, have the AFL ever considered a pre-season cup match there?

 

[Sydneyfan]

The main AFL Ground in Newcastle is called Newcastle No.1 Sports Ground, it's in inner-city Newcastle. The local team there's the Newcastle City Blues who play in the Black Diamond AFL. They had a Swans pre-season match up there last year, I was considering going to it but didn't up end there in the end. I remember something about Eddie McGuire proposing that Collingwood play a game up there some time in the future but heard nothing about it again.

Newcastle's definitely a Rugby League heartland and much more passionate about RL and their Knights than Sydney, or most probably anywhere else in Australia is! A lot of work would have to be done before it could be anywhere near viable for an AFL club there, but I'm sure if a club were to experiment and play a one-off match or 2 up there similar to what's happening at Manuka and York Park recently, they'd get a decent (15,000+) Crowd, provided the Knights weren't playing on the same day!

There are Swans supporters I've met who travel from places like Newcastle and the Hunter, the Central Coast, and Wollongong to each Swans match, so there's some AFL supporters there but definitely Rugby League the No.1 code there by a very long way!

P.S. Newcastle's a pretty city by the way, a lot more relaxed and laidback than Sydney with some very nice beaches!

 

[Rob]

Originally posted by Latrobe
Newcastle is a true blue working class rugby league town. They continually produce good quality footy players every year, including Andrew Johns, who is the best footy player in the world today. AFL there is passionately hated, as it is all around NSW, ACT & QLD.

Of course it is, that's why it draws the biggest crowds.

 

[Ms.Storm]

Originally posted by Rob


Of course it is, that's why it draws the biggest crowds.

Brisbane Broncos draws the largest crowds, about 38,000 this week and when they move back to Lang Park the crowds will improve again.

Newcastle supporters are extremely loyal and passionate, and so are many Sydney teams loyal and passionate too, as are the Storm and Raiders and NZ Warriors and NQ Cowboys...its just that some afl supporters refused to acknowledge this

 

[BMD]

Newcastle and the Hunter is a real league town, although there is strong soccer following and competition as well. There is a strong Australian Rules subculture and history though, as evidenced by the existence of the Black Diamond League. You'd never know about it if you visited there though - you'd have to make an effort to find it.

Newcastle's pop is about 450 k and not growing that fast either. The Central Coast and Lake Macquarie are the real growth areas.

It is a top town - great lifestyle, beaches, the lake. Big enough to have all the facilities, small enough not to have traffic hassles etc. Not a lot of work at the moment unfortunately.


Always used to get a bum rap from Sydney siders who only ever saw the steel mills, coal loader side of the place. This attitude seems to be changing though.