The 2026 Hunter Central Coast Junior Season gets underway on April 19, marking an exciting new chapter for junior football across the region.
This season will look slightly different, with AFL Hunter Central Coast introducing new age group structures. Moving away from the traditional Under 13, 15 and 17 competitions, the league will now align with other regions by implementing Under 14, 16 and 18 age groups. This change is aimed at improving long-term player retention, while also strengthening development pathways into senior football.
The continued growth of junior football has been evident across multiple age groups. In 2025, the introduction of the Under 12's competition saw six Hunter-based teams take part. In 2026, that number has grown significantly to 18 teams, with six from the Central Coast and twelve from the Hunter, highlighting the strong growth in participation.
Another exciting addition for 2026 is the introduction of the Under 10 Youth Girls division. This new all-female competition has been well received, with seven teams across the region, including the Woy Woy Peninsula Swans, who enter their first Youth Girls side. The Central Coast has led the way in this age group, contributing five of the seven teams.
The Under 10 Youth Girls division aims to support player retention while providing a fun, inclusive environment for young girls to learn the game without the added pressure of competition.
In 2026, Youth Girls will have the opportunity to participate in Under 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 competitions, while also having the option to play in mixed competitions across the Under 9, 10, 11 and 12 age groups.
The season kicks off this weekend, with matches scheduled across 11 venues and a total of 56 games to be played. With clear weather forecast, it promises to be a fantastic start to the year.
Key Season Dates
- Round 1: April 19
- Round 2: April 26
- Round 3: May 3
- Round 4: May 10
- Representative Round: May 17
- Round 5: May 24
- Round 6: May 31
- Round 7: June 14
- Round 8: June 21
- Round 9: June 28
- Round 10: July 5
- Northern NSW Representative Carnival: July 15–17
- Round 11: July 19
- Round 12: July 26
- Round 13: August 2
- Round 14: August 9
- Round 15: August 16
- Round 16: August 23
- Finals Week 1: August 30
- Finals Week 2: September 6
- Grand Finals: September 13
The 2026 season shapes as one of the biggest yet for junior football in the Hunter Central Coast, with new opportunities, and an exciting pathway for the next generation of players.