Warners Bay coach Marty Reiman can't recall an Anzac Day clash being held in any of the local Aussie rules competitions he's been involved with previously.
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But this Thursday, some 1000 kilometres away from Collingwood and Essendon doing battle at the MCG, the Bulldogs will meet the Cardiff Hawks at Pasterfield Sports Complex in a first for the Black Diamond Cup.
The same concept was trialled last year, but as part of regular round matches on the weekend, whereas the 2019 edition has a stand-alone fixture on April 25.
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"Of all the leagues I've ever been involved in I can't remember there being an Anzac Day clash, let alone on Anzac Day," Reiman said.
"It's a massive honour for the guys to have the opportunity to play."
Reiman welcomes back the likes of Ben Scowen, Alexander Crelley (concussion), ruckman Matthew Spinks and defender Sam Rumball while Josh Nicol is playing his first game of the season.
"We get three or four experienced guys back which is good for us," Reiman said.
"We've still got a few more out, but it means we've got a bit more depth there.
"But we'll have to be at our best against Cardiff because they are the benchmark this year."
Warners Bay have started the campaign 2-1 while Cardiff are undefeated after three outings.
Hawks player-coach Nick Tomlinson said his squad were "looking forward" to the occasion.
"It's something that's not lost on our guys [playing on Anzac Day]," Tomlinson said.
"Mick Ryan has an army background and he addressed everyone at training on Tuesday night before we announced the sides."
Ryan is unavailable for Cardiff but Jared Campbell returns from a knee injury.
Main game kicks off at 3pm with Anzac Day tributes starting 10 minutes earlier. The first of three matches will be at 11am.
The remaining four encounters will take place on Saturday with Newcastle City, Nelson Bay and Terrigal Avoca visiting Wyong Lakes, Gosford and Killarney Vale respectively. Maitland travel to Singleton to wrap up the fourth round.
Meanwhile, the AFL Hunter Central Coast representative teams are set to be announced next week following the women's tri-series challenge at Medowie on Monday that was taken out by Newcastle for a second straight year.