Black Diamond Australian Football League

The Black Diamond Australian Football League is an Australian rules football competition in the Newcastle, Hunter Region and Central Coast regions of New South Wales.

The league was formed in 2000 from a merger of the Newcastle Australian Football League and the Central Coast Australian Football League.

The proposition of an alternate competition started from rumblings during the 1990's that both competitions were dreadfully uneven and it was generally considered the administration, although keen and resolute, was far from what was needed to sustain a viable football league/s.

Visits from AFL executives to both the Newcastle and Central Coast took place during the 1999 season where they addressed meetings of delegates to look at alternatives to their contemporary competitions. It turns out these people were more interested in a proposed regional Club to participate in the Sydney Competition.

This prosposal didn't address the concerns of the general situation of the local competitions. As there was no follow-up by the AFL both boards issued invitations to senior officials of all clubs to discuss the options for the future. A meeting was held at Mt Penang, Kariong in October 1999 where it was decided to merge both leagues together to create a stronger more balanced competition.

The name "Black Diamond AFL" derives from the Black Diamond Cup which has been awarded to the Newcastle AFL Premiers since 1888.

The Black Diamond AFL were successful in winning the Southern NSW AFL Championships in 2007, defeating the Riverina Football League.

In 2008 both Woy Woy and Singleton were removed from the First Grade competition and Lake Macquarie Crows were promoted to First Grade, meaning nine clubs competed for the premiership.

In 2011, Singleton returned to first grade, after winning the reserve premierships for 2009 and 2010. Nelsons Bay however will only compete in Reserve Grade. Woy Woy, now known as the Peninsula Swans, will compete as a joint venture with the Gosford Tigers, allowing players at both clubs to compete in First Grade, Reserve Grade and Under 18s in 2011.

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