AFL Hunter Central Coast junior coordinator Josh Horvath reckons it's "the biggest grand final day I've seen in 10 years".
Players, officials and spectators packed out Feighan Oval at Warners Bay on Sunday, as premiers were decided across 10 age groups.
From first bounce at 9am to the last full-time whistle around 4pm, an estimated crowd of up to 5000 attended the end-of-season showdowns for 2026.
"In terms of crowd numbers, while we didn't have a clicker to count people, we're estimating we had somewhere near 4000 or 5000 stream through from start to finish," Hovarth told the Newcastle Herald.
"Some stayed throughout, some stayed for a little while and with Warners Bay hosting there was a lot of home support for their games in particular.
"I've been involved in footy up here for 10 years and it was the biggest grand final day I've seen in 10 years.
"It was really good for junior footy and a great spectacle."
Warners Bay were successful twice (under-16 girls, under-14 boys division 1) while Newcastle City (under-12 mixed Hunter division 2), Cardiff (under-12 mixed Hunter division 1) and Maitland (under-14 girls) all claimed titles. The Hawks surged late after trailing by six goals.
Terrigal Avoca had a "big day out", collecting three flags (under-18 boys, under-16 boys, under-12 mixed Central Coast). The Panther prevailed by just six points in the middle age group.
Also getting a chance to hold aloft silverware, the Saratoga Hawks (under-14 boys division 2, under-12 girls) who were recently announced as runner-up for AFL HCC junior club of the year behind Woy Woy Peninsula.
"Only a junior club who play out of Adcock Park at Gosford," Hovarth said.
"They used to have a ground at Saratoga but as the club grew it basically became too small.
"They started out as Auskick, under 9s and under 11s but now they have teams all the way through to under 16s with a very strong youth girls program.
"It's a testament to the work that's been put in. The club runs an extremely tight ship with a group of very dedicated volunteers.
"They were also runner-up for our junior club of the year across the region so a sensational week for them."
Hovarth added: "In years to come do we see another [senior] side on the coast?"
AFLHCC JUNIOR PREMIERS 2026
Under-18 boys: Terrigal Avoca
Under-16 girls: Warners Bay
Under-16 boys: Terrigal Avoca
Under-14 girls: Maitland
Under-14 boys (div 1): Warners Bay
Under-14 boys (div 2): Saratoga
Under-12 girls: Saratoga
Under-12 mixed (Hunter div 1):Cardiff
Under-12 mixed (Hunter div 2): Newcastle City
Under-12 mixed (Central Coast): Terrigal Avoca
