Round 1 of the AFL Hunter Central Coast season got underway on Saturday, with all five senior divisions returning to action in an exciting opening weekend.

The season officially launched on Friday night with a historic Women’s Plate clash, as the University of Newcastle Seahorses made their debut against Newcastle City, becoming the league’s 14th senior club. It was a tough initiation for the newcomers, going down by 73 points, while their men’s side also fell short in the Men’s Shield, defeated by 46.

Across the rest of the competition, Cup football returned in style, with the Bombers, Bulldogs and Blues claiming wins in the men’s, while the Bombers, Marlins and Blues were victorious in the women’s competition.