The Cardiff Australian Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is an Australian rules football club based in the City of Lake Macquarie suburb of Cameron Park, New South Wales, and currently plays in the AFL Hunter Central Coast competition.

History The club was established on 14 November 1967 at a meeting at the Evans Oval Soccer Hall by former pupils at the Cardiff High school. They first began playing football in 1968 entering a team in the Newcastle Australian Football League Reserve grade competition. In their first season they had finished runners up, losing the Grand Final by just one point. After winning the premiership the following year in 1969, Cardiff was added to the league's First Grade competition. At the time the club was playing on a field which is now known today as McDonald Jones Stadium.

Cardiff improved quickly within the First Grade competition, making their first Grand Final in 1974 despite losing to RAAF. In 1978 the Hawks moved to their new home ground of Maneela Park in Glendale. Under the coaching of former Glenelg footballer Neil Davis, Cardiff won their first NAFL First Grade premiership over Newcastle City, and went on to win the following year in 1980 after lasting the entire season undefeated. Cardiff finished runners up in the following 1981 and 1982 seasons, losing both Grand Finals to Newcastle City and Western Suburbs. However, this would see a premiership drought lasting for 18 years until 1998 when a year after they finished runners up again, this time to Nelson Bay, they capped off another undefeated season to win the premiership.

After both the Newcastle and Central Coast leagues merged to form the Black Diamond Australian Football League in 2000, Cardiff were seen as one of the more stronger clubs inn the league early on, despite losing both the 2000 and 2001 Grand Finals to Terrigal-Avoca and West Newcastle-Wallsend. The Hawks won the 2002 premiership and went on to win the 2004, 2005 and 2006 flags but after 2007 saw a Grand Final losing streak that lasted from 2008 to 2012. 2006 saw the club lose Maneela Park, which resulted in seniors playing at Bill Elliott Oval and juniors at Hillsborough Oval. Cardiff's most recent First Grade Grand Final appearance was in 2017 where they lost to Terrigal-Avoca by 9 points.

Cardiff fielded their first Women's team in 2016 that finished their inaugural season 4th with 11 wins and 4 losses. In 2021, Cardiff introduced a second women's team which will compete in the Plate division.

Cardiff has produced one Australian Football League player, Isaac Heeney who was drafted by Sydney Swans in the 2014 AFL National Draft.

Honour Board +Premierships1st GradeReserve GradeUnder 18sU/10sU/11sU/12sU/13sU/14sU/15sU/16sU/17sU/17s Girls1979196920052006201920022014200520132006197620161980 ^197220082004201520062008^198120191998 ^1976200920052020200720101988202020021980201020062008^198920041985200820091996200519862011199720062001201220112017 #2020 ^ ^ Undefeated season

# 2nd Division +Best and FairestYearMen's 1st GradeMen's Reserve GradeMen's U18 GradeMen's 3rd GradeWomen's 1st GradeWomen's Reserve Grade1973Geoffery Sheean1974Paul Redman1975Michael Storck1976Klaus Richter1977Klaus Richter1978John Reinhardt1979Klaus Richter1980Steve Raw1981Ben Jansen1982Ben Jansen1983Ben Jansen1984Ben Jansen1985Ben Jansen1986Keith White1987Geoff Rock1988Keith White1989John Hislop1990Mark Roberts1991Troy Baylis1992Michael Gillard1993Troy Baylis1994Glen Crowe1995Steve McCarten1996Ross Hughes1997Troy Baylis1998Ricky Roberts1999David Flynn2000Troy Baylis2001David Flynn2002Brendan Wold2003Shawn Simpson2004Michael Ryan2005David Flynn2006Luke Orton2007Adam Clarke2008Adam ClarkeNathan PearsonWade Beard/Sam Brasington2009Tim SheldonDustin SpriggsMatthew White2010Simon O'BrienShane WilliamsJack Pratt/Sam Haigh2011Adam ClarkeJames FootRhys Dintino2012Simon O'BrienJosh McLeod2013Liam GibsonTim Brown2014Simon O'BrienSimon WilliamsMichael Krake2015Tim SheldonAndrew RisbyTony Edser2016Max HillierJason AdlingtonEliza Bunner2017Tom YenschJohn O'ReganMollie Palmer2018Bryce GraetzMichael Ryan & Callum SpoorTaylah Wilks2019Simon O'BrienMax KozlikMatisse Coram-Parker2020Izaac HughesDavid Graan & Jared CampbellDanika Spamer202120222023 +Club PresidentsYearNameYearNameYearNameYearNameYearNameYearName1968Horrie Northey1978Bob Simcoe1988Alan White1998Chris Arnold2008Peter Risby2018Quinton Davis1969Clive Gerrish1979John Reinhardt1989Alan White1999Chris Arnold2009Peter Risby2019Damian Charleson1970Clive Gerrish1980John Reinhardt1990Alan White2000Paul Redman2010Peter Risby2020Warren Lovell1971Clive Gerrish1981Bob Simcoe1991Roy Reichert2001Paul Redman2011Peter Risby2021Warren Lovell1972Clive Gerrish1982Kieran Lister1992Roy Reichert2002Paul Redman2012Callan Buchan2022Matthew Plumridge1973Clive Gerrish1983Kieran Lister1993Roy Reichert2003Henry Kocon2013Brendan Bailey2023Matthew Plumridge1974Lee Northey1984Michael Storck1994David Fowler & Shane Jones2004Michael Gray2014Brendan Bailey1975John Sullivan1985Michael Storck1995Shane Jones2005Michael Gray2015Mathew Musilak1976Ric P Gregory1986Michael Storck1996Chris Arnold2006Michael Gray2016Quinton Davis1977Bob Simcoe1987Alan White1997Chris Arnold2007Paul Redman2017Quinton Davis +Life MembersNameReasonYear InductedTroy Baylis200+ Games2017Shawn Simpson200+ Games2017Shane Williams200+ Games2017Ryan Sneddon200+ Games2017Paul Cooksley200+ Games2017Nick Kocon200+ Games2017Liam Gibson200+ Games2017Ken Saxby200+ Games2017Jeremy Kocon200+ Games2017Greg Walker200+ Games2017Glenn Summers200+ Games2017Brendan Wold200+ Games2017Ben Stewart200+ Games2017Andrew Risby200+ Games2017Peter Risby10+ years Service2017Brian Page10+ years Service2017Quinton Davis200+ Games2019Adam Clarke10+ years Service2019Wayne Reid10+ years Service2020 +Games Played Top 6NameGames playedAdam Dugan367Nick Kocon333Paul Redman329Brian Phillips327Liam Gibson318Glenn Summers307 +League/AFL Awards YearNameAwardComments2000Troy BaylisElliot Davey MedalFirst Grade B&F2000Cardiff HawksClub Championship2001Shawn SimpsonElliot Davey MedalFirst Grade B&F2001Christan DavidChris Arnold MedalReserve Grade B&F2002David HealeyBlack Diamond Cup Leading Goalkicker102 goals2003Phillip JauncyUnder 18 Best and Fairest2003Nick KoconUnder 18 Sporting Pulse Player Award2004Cardiff HawksClub Championship2004Cardiff HawksClub Administration Award2005Tom BivianoReserve Grade Leading Goalkicker2005Murray WhiteUnder 18 Leading Goalkicker2005Cardiff HawksClub Championship2005Cardiff HawksClub Administration Award2006Michael RyanBlack Diamond Cup Leading Goalkicker92 goals2006Michael RyanCarlton Draught Player of The Year2006Cardiff HawksClub Administration Award2007Tim SheldonElliot Davey MedalFirst Grade B&F2008Michael RyanBlack Diamond Cup Leading Goalkicker108 goals2008Cardiff HawksClub Championship2009Cardiff HawksClub Championship2010Michael RyanBlack Diamond Cup Leading Goalkicker72 goals2010Michael RyanCoach of The Year2010Matthew WhiteUnder 18 Leading Goalkicker54 goals2010Cardiff HawksClub Championship2011James FootGranland MedalReserve Grade B&F2011Paul RedmanJames Arnold Volunteer of The Year2011Cardiff HawksClub Administration Award2012Isaac HeeneyAlan McLean MedalNational Carnival B&F2012Isaac HeeneyMost Outstanding Young Footballer2012Isaac HeeneyJim Stynes Scholarship2014Isaac HeeneyRising Star2014Isaac HeeneyTAC Cup Team of The Year2014Isaac HeeneyHarrison Medal TAC Cup B&F2014Isaac HeeneyUnder 18 All Australian2014Micahel KrakeChris Arnold MedalReserve Grade B&F2015Max HillierRising Star2016Max HillierMost Outstanding Young Footballer2017Tom YenschElliot Davey MedalFirst Grade B&F2017Marcus De LeurBlack Diamond Cup Coaches MVP2017Michael RyanReserve Grade Leading Goalkicker2017Josh MurphyReserve Grade Leading Goalkicker2018Lachlan PriceRising Star2018Taylah WilksRising Star2018Michael RyanBlack Diamond Plate Leading Goalkicker2018Miles PetersenGrand final 400m Winner2019Izaac HughesMaurice Goolagong Trophy58 Goals2019Eloise PetersenRising Star2019Izaac HughesGrand final 100m Sprint Winner2019Jaden NewtonUnder 13 John Holmquest TrophyBest and Fairest2020David GraanChris Arnold MedalReserve Grade B&F2020Brendan WoldReserve Grade Leading Goalkicker25 Goals2020Danika SpamerRising Star2020Billy Jo TowersRookie of The Year2020Danika SpamerRookie of The Year2020Danika SpamerWomen's Best and Fairest2020Max KingUnder 13 John Holmquest TrophyBest and Fairest2020Tameka ChambersUnder 13 Girls Best and Fairest

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