Glenmore face nine-time winners Yeppoon in AFL Capricornia grand final

The mighty Yeppoon Swans stand on the precipice of winning 10 grand finals in a row but their opponents this weekend have big plans to end that record streak. Here’s how.

Yeppoon vice-captain Leigh Cossens (left) and Glenmore co-captain/coach Tim Higgins with the prized premiership trophy, which will be presented to the grand final winner on Saturday.

It’s been nine years since Tim Higgins, Tyson Payne, Darcy Payne, Mathew Cameron, Kris Bulman and Dylan Hooper tasted premiership glory.

They were part of the Glenmore Bulls senior men’s team that claimed the AFL Capricornia flag in 2014.

They scored a 36-point win over the Yeppoon Swans, who went on to dominate the competition and are closing in on a 10th straight premiership.

The two teams will face off in the 2024 decider at Rockhampton’s Stenlake Park at 3.50pm on Saturday.

Six members of the premiership-winning Glenmore Bulls team of 2014 will line up against the Yeppoon Swans again in the 2024 decider.

Yeppoon features in the three senior divisions to be decided, taking on BITS Saints in reserve grade at noon and Rockhampton Panthers in the senior women at 2pm.

The senior men’s combatants share some rare local Aussie rules history, and the six returning Bulls stars are keen to forge some more of their own.

As well as being the last team to beat the Swans in a grand final, it was the Bulls who halted the classy Yeppoon outfit’s incredible winning run last season.

The Swans claimed the national record for the most consecutive wins in Aussie rules history, making it 89 straight when they took out the 2020 grand final.

Yeppoon Swans won their ninth straight AFL Capricornia flag in 2023.

They appeared unbeatable - and they were for 128 games - before Glenmore finally got the better of them in Round 6 of the 2023 season.

Co-captains Tim and Darcy kicked three goals apiece in that monumental victory and will be crucial to the Bulls’ bid to again savour grand final euphoria.

Tim, who is also the team’s coach, said the players were “pumped” and could not wait for their chance to dethrone the Swans.

They were unable to do it in 2021 but are ready to give it everything in front of a parochial home crowd on Saturday.

“It’s been a few years since we’ve been in one and 10 years since we’ve won one, so it would be nice to get it done,” Tim said.

Glenmore Bulls player Tyson Payne has had another big season.

“It will be the first grand final for a good handful of our players but I think the maturity within the playing group and the leadership of the boys who do have that experience will help settle those nerves.

“Obviously, being a grand final, it’s going to be a pretty hot start so being able to maintain our composure, structure and discipline will be really important.”

The Bulls would, for the first time this season, be at full strength, making for some pretty even match-ups across the park.

“I think the midfield battle is going to go a long way to determining who has more opportunities,” Tim said.

Glenmore Bulls player Haidyn Thomas.

“Tyson Payne has had a great year and Nathan Casperson is another really good midfielder for us.

“Haidyn Thomas down back has got a big game on Cam Arnold so that will be a really important battle for us to try to win.”

Tim said his team would have to produce a strong, sustained effort for the whole game.

“It will come down to our consistency over four quarters,: he said.

“We’ve matched it with them for quarters and halves and through stages of the game but they always seem to get away from us.

“You give them a five or 10-minute block and they’ll kick four or five goals on you pretty quick so it’s about being able to limit those momentum runs, and trying to capitalise when we have momentum.”

Yeppoon and Glenmore last grand final meeting was in 2021.

Tim said the Bulls would love to bring the coveted premiership trophy back to Rockhampton.

“It’s been down the beach too long,” he said.

“It would be nice to keep them on nine and a grand final at home obviously has a bit of extra feeling and meaning.

“I know the whole club’s behind us and really excited to see what we can do on Saturday.”