AFL Capricornia senior men’s competition: The players to watch in 2022

They’re the players who could prove the difference in the 2022 AFL Capricornia senior men’s competition. We profile them here. READ THE FULL LIST.

The 2022 AFL Capricornia kicked off at the weekend with a grand final replay between the Yeppoon Swans and the Glenmore Bulls in the senior men’s division.

The super Swans, who are gunning for an eighth straight flag, made it 107 consecutive wins with their 96-point victory on Saturday.

In the other games, BITS got the better of the Gladstone Suns (14.8-92 to 10.3-63), while Brothers Kangaroos beat Rockhampton Panthers in the traditional Anzac Day clash on Monday.

Here we profile two players from each club who will be pivotal to their team’s tilt at the title this year.

Yeppoon Swans

Yeppoon’s Bradley Francis.

Bradley Francis: An outstanding junior for the club, Bradley has been a terrific lock down fullback for the Swans over the past couple of years. During the pre-season and practice games, he has come of age and been influential with his run and spread from the backline, working right up the ground. It is expected he will be utilised as more of an attacking defender and at times rotate through the ruck in what is expected to be a strong season from him.

Yeppoon’s Will Palmer.

Will Palmer: Will progressed through the club’s junior program before a strong senior season in 2021. He has had an outstanding pre-season, completing all running blocks and joining the top-tier runners at the club. He was duly rewarded for all the work he did with standout performances for the Swans in their practice matches He has grown into an exceptional leader of the club and will be looking to take great strides this season.

Glenmore Bulls

Glenmore’s Darcy Payne.

Darcy Payne: Darcy is a bull of an inside mid around stoppages and a super clean user once on the outside. He also has the ability to go forward and offer a great target and has been kicking for goal exceptionally well in the pre-season games.

Tyler Hodgens: In his second season back at Glenmore, Tyler has put in the hard yards to be extremely fit for season kickoff. His work rate between stoppages and ability to find the footy has been a standout in the team’s pre-season and he is shaping as one of Glenmore’s players to watch.

BITS Saints

Ubil Choi: The champion midfielder returns to BITS after a year away and will be keen to replicate the form that earned him the Bernie Gottke Medal for the league’s best and fairest in 2020. He oozes class and is the complete package. He has speed to burn, incredible skills and outstanding positional play. He’s a fan favourite, with spectators loving to watch how he goes about his business on the field.

Tom Grainger: A talented player who came through the ranks at BITS, he will add plenty to the team’s midfield this year. A real student of the game, he has an innate ability to make the right move at the right time. He is highly skilled, is a very smart mover with the ball and reads the game incredibly well.

Rockhampton Panthers

Panthers’ Travis Young.

Travis Young: The Panthers’ captain will play through the midfield, using his intelligence, speed and balance to impact the contested footy. His ability to kick with depth and accuracy will help generate scoring chances. Travis’s leadership off the field will be critical to the ongoing short and long-term growth of the club and its pursuit of excellence.

Panthers' Haidyn Thomas.

Haidyn Thomas: Haidyn is an aggressive ball winner whose height and competitiveness will see him play through the midfield and give the Panthers possession from contests. His ability to break lines in the game and set a high standard of physicality will help the team to compete across all phases of the game and lift the competitive standards at training.

Brothers Kangaroos

Hezzy Fletcher: Harry has speed to burn and would be one of the fastest players in the competition. He has a great footy brain and is very smart with the ball. A Brothers junior, he has made an impressive transition to the senior ranks and his game has gone to another level in the past couple of years. He is maturing as a player and his reliability and consistency will be key to Brothers’ prospects this year.

Brothers Kangaroos’ Matthew Jones.

Matthew Jones: The experienced campaigner makes a welcome return to the Brothers’ ranks this year. A talented back man, he has a great knowledge and understanding of the game. An inspirational player who lifts those around him, he is highly regarded by the Brothers’ playing group and offers plenty with his skills, footy nous and communication.

Gladstone Suns - TBC

* All clubs were contacted and asked to contribute to this article.