AFL Townsville 2025: Each club’s major recruits and breakout players
With the 2025 AFL Townsville season upon us, catch up on all the major player transfers, recruits and off-season news, as well as a breakout player prediction for each men’s and women’s team.
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The AFL Townsville season has finally got a launch date locked in after inclement weather delayed the start by more than a month.
The competition will kick off with a bang on April 26 with a full schedule of senior and junior fixtures for Anzac Round.
While some clubs were hopeful of hitting the ground this weekend, AFL Townsville was forced to extend the delay due to playing surfaces not being up to a suitable standard.
“This has been a tough start to the year for our clubs and their committees who have worked hard to still have no games played. Please reach out to your club and see how you might be able to assist,” AFL Townsville announced in a statement on Thursday.
“We will not be returning until after our Easter bye with all grades taking to the field on Saturday 26th April, and Sunday 27th April will be our Youth Girls games as per the current fixture.
“An announcement will be made in the coming days regarding the end of season fixturing including finals.”
Northern Beaches Suns women’s coach Jacob Moulden said the team was targeting a return to finals after missing out by just one game in 2024.
“Last year was a pretty strong year overall, but only missing out on finals by four points was a little bit devastating,”
“This year we’ve built enough of a strong side and the girls have worked really hard to try and build on what we did last year and go that one better.”
MEN
CURRA SWANS
2024 finish: 2nd | Runners-up | 11-0-5 (W-D-L)
Coach: Ray Burgess
Captains: Mitchell Dennis (c) and Ty Autin (vc)
Major ins and outs: The Swans have lost around half of their grand final side from 2024, with plans to look internally to find the core group moving forward.
“We’re hoping that our young guys from last year, that sort of had a taste of seniors during the middle of the year, can step into those roles a bit sooner than expected,” Burgess said.
“We haven’t really landed any significant recruits at this point in time.”
Breakout player prediction: Xavier Leonard and Aiden Knowles
“Xavier is only a young man, he’ll been in our leadership group for the second year in a row and he’s only 19,” Burgess said.
“He’s a much-respected player among the younger brigade and he’s obviously well-respected by the older guys too, so it’ll be nice to see him take his game to another level again this year.
“He’s generally a rover. He’s very athletic, has good skills, and he reads the ball really well.”
Knowles is a raw ruckman with a rugby union background who is developing his craft every week. The young gun has massive heart and always gives his all.
Comment: The Swans are the big unknown of this year’s competition. On one hand, they’re 2024 grand finalists with the experience to beat any side in the competition.
But with so much player movement combined with the interrupted pre-season, it will be interesting to see how many games it takes for Curra to click.
HERMIT PARK TIGERS
2024 finish: 3rd | 9-0-7 (W-D-L)
Coach: Craig Forbes
Captains: Josh Andrews and McKye Turner will serve as co-captains
Major ins and outs:
IN: Connor McGrath, Ashton Lewis
“Connor has been doing pretty well. He’s got in and made himself known and he’s been welcomed by the boys,” Forbes said.
“Ashton Lewis, one of the Army boys, he’s also been good so far. Connor will play as a forward, Ashton will be a midfielder.”
Breakout player prediction: Josh Andrews and Tyron Bethune
“Ty has been around the Tigers for a few years. He played a lot of junior footy here and this will be his first big opportunity to play senior footy this year,” Forbes said.
“He’s only 17 or 18, so it’s a great opportunity to cement himself as a breakout player.
“I’ve brought a new game plan and he fitted into one of the positions really well.”
Comment: The Tigers have a good blend of some of Townsville’s top veterans and best rising talent, making the a big threat for the flag. How the team adapts to a new style of play in 2025 will be telling.
“The boys have adapted really well and I’ve been really impressed at what they’ve been able to learn from the new game plan and how they’ve adapted to the conditions,” Forbes said.
“We’ve had great numbers every night at training.”
NORTHERN BEACHES SUNS
2024 finish: 5th | 0-0-16 (W-D-L)
Coach: Gary Kelly
Captains: David Hedlam and Zack Sleeth will serve as co-captains
Major ins and outs:
IN: Christopher Butt (forward), Hunter Eenjes (forward/midfield), Daniel Stephen (midfield), Will Graham and Alexander Graham
The Suns have brought in six or seven recruits for their 2025 campaign, headlined by experienced forward Christopher Butt.
“He’s a good lead and he’s pretty quick off the mark, which is good for us. We haven’t really had that leading target in the last couple of years,” Kelly said.
“So good to see someone like that up there and then we’ve just got some extra bits of fitness coming through. We’ve got a player that can play all over the backline and then a few people through the middle and some young fellas coming through as well.
OUT: No major names have left the club.
Breakout player prediction: Harley Thomas, Jordan Napper and David Hedlam
“I honestly think we have a couple players who will breakout,” Kelly said.
“Harley Thomas should go well this year, we’re going to try him in a couple of new spaces. I think he’s going to improve a lot this year, so I'm looking forward to seeing him as well as a few others.”
Comment: It feels like it’s only a matter of time until the Suns find themselves victorious again after a winless 2024. The young group from the Northern Beaches improved as the season went on and they will look to carry that form into 2025.
THURINGOWA BULLDOGS
2024 finish: 1st | Premiers | 15-0-1 (W-D-L)
Coach: Brendan McGrath with Charlie Gaudion and Josh Hollis as assistants
Captains: Brock Wilson (c) Joel Newman (vc)
The two Bulldogs veterans will continue their leadership of the three-time reigning premiers.
“They’re just so good for the group,” McGrath said.
“They’re great leaders, both with how they manage their football and obviously how they play as well.
“It’s really good that they reach out to everyone, not just in the senior side, but throughout the club. They’re the perfect pair to sort of run the side.”
Major ins and outs:
IN: Matt Steiner (returning), Cohen Frith (Mackay), Benji Lynch (Mount Isa, ex-Tigers)
McGrath said he was excited to see what club junior Frith would add to the side in attack.
“He played down in the Mackay league last year. He’s a good all-rounder forward who brings a lot of run to the side and really opens the play up,” McGrath said.
“He’s a Bulldogs junior originally who went down south, and he’s come back to join the senior side and he’ll be handy.”
OUT: Thuringowa have lost 5-8 premiership players from 2024, including Stuart Guest (WA) and Jack Livingstone.
Breakout player prediction: Joel Newman, Cohen Frith and Max Newman
“What we’re trying to concentrate on this year is to open the spectrum to have adaptable players in all positions,” McGrath said.
“Overall, I think it’s just such a good group. They work so well together, which has helped us out the last three years.
“Joel Newman, being such a good player, we’re looking to keep him on the field as much as possible, and use him as our barometer in the middle to set up the rest of the side.
“So it’s hard to nail down on a standout but I think Cohen Frith is going to be really good. He’s that younger age where he could really step up to open the field up.
“And Maxy Newman, he had a finger injury last year and he’s back in the senior mix this year and he’s been a bit of a general down back for us with his size and his use of the footy.”
Comment: There’s no doubt that Thuringowa enters the 2025 season as odds-on favourites, but it certainly won’t come easy for the three-time reigning premiers. How the club’s rising young guns transition into senior football will be key to the Bulldogs’ success.
UNIVERSITY HAWKS
2024 finish: 4th | 5-0-11 (W-D-L)
Coach: Patrick Dempsey (head coach) with Mani Gregson, Keegan Vickers, John Dempsey and Michael Tripp as assistants.
Captains: Mani Gregson (c)
Major ins and outs: The Hawks have brought in a number of fresh university students from more football-focused states during the traditional yearly turnover of players the club enjoys due to its unique connection with James Cook University.
“There are at least half a dozen, probably more, from all parts of Australia including Perth, Sydney, Tasmania and South Australia,” Dempsey said.
“Young men and women come from Aussie rules states, mostly, and find a home at Uni Hawks together.
“It’s a long way to come on your own, and to find Uni Hawks and find a group of new teammates who you can bond and play with is a great thing.”
Breakout player prediction: Keegan Vickers
The Hawks stalwart and 2024 coach is set for a big season after taking a step back from coaching duties.
“I think Keegan is going to have a great year. I’ve got a lot of confidence in Keegan as a player and a person,” Dempsey said.
Comment: University’s dynamic coaching group will help unlock the squad’s best as the Hawks chase another finals berth after being bundled out of last year’s finals by Hermit Park.
WOMEN
CURRA SWANS
2024 finish: 2nd | Runners-up | 12-0-4 (W-D-L)
Coach: Meg Greenland
Captains: Gen Butler and Jess Pham
Comment: With a re-energised squad for 2025, it’s hard to get a good read on the Curra Swans women’s team for the upcoming season.
A swath of departing players has opened the door for new stars to step up and the club will be targeting a return to finals after losing last year’s decider to Hermit Park, 4.6 (30) to 2.5 (17).
HERMIT PARK TIGERS
2024 finish: 1st | Premiers | 13-0-3 (W-D-L)
Coach: Stafford Jones
Captains: Gabrielle Dockray (c), Hayley Cornish (vc) and Sarah Robinson (vc)
Major ins and outs:
IN: Taylah Selfie (running)
OUT: Brianne Wilson (rugby league), Ellie Farrands (Adelaide)
Breakout player prediction: Hayley Cornish and Taylah Selfie
“I don’t know if she’s a breakout player, but I think Hayley Cornish is going to continue to dominate the competition,” Jones said.
“She was by far and away the most consistent player we had in the whole comp. I think Hayley is certainly going to be the standout.
“Yes, we’ve lost some girls, but this will be the third year that we’ve kept the core group of our players together, and that certainly helps when you’ve got players that know how each other play.
“Taylah (Selfie) is a runner who has been a bit of a surprise packet, to be honest.
“She’s incredibly quick, she’s very fit and she’s picked up the skills quite well given our interrupted pre-season.”
Comment: Losing one of the league’s best defenders in Brianne Wilson will be a challenge for the reigning premiers, but they’ve certainly got the squad to make it all the way to the decider once again in 2025.
The leadership of Gabrielle Dockray and the experience of vice-captain Hayley Cornish will ensure the Tigers finish up around the top of the table.
NORTHERN BEACHES SUNS
2024 finish: 5th | 5-0-11 (W-D-L)
Coach: Jacob Moulden
Captains: Jasmine Hermann and Jess Metz will serve as co-captains
Major ins and outs:
IN: Chloe Ware (Midfielder, Curra) and Jesse Isakiewicz (Midfielder, Thuringowa)
OUT: The Suns have lost around 10 players for various reasons, but have found suitable replacements to fill the gaps in the squad.
Breakout player prediction: Jaye Willis
“She stood out last year very well. This year is going to be very big for her because she will be our standalone ruckman,” Moulden said.
“She’s another one with a basketball background, a bit of netball, and she’s just got a good tank to run all day.
“She’s very fiery and she’ll hopefully stand out a lot.”
Comment: The Suns are itching for a finals berth, coming within one win of the post-season in 2024. Look for the Northern Beaches side to start the season strong with some early wins.
THURINGOWA BULLDOGS
2024 finish: 3rd | 6-0-10 (W-D-L)
Coach: Peter Picknell
Captains: Geordon Smith (c) and Lauren Starkey (vc)
Major ins and outs: The Bulldogs will enter the 2025 women’s competition with a largely unheralded new-look group.
Comment: Thuringowa’s captains both bring a world of experience and stability to the side and coach Peter Picknell said he was excited to see what his squad could bring in 2025.
“I’m really excited to get the season rolling and get the crew on the field to get a good idea of where we are at,” Picknell said.
“I’m super positive that we will jell and be a real force in the competition this year.
“We have some really good juniors coming up through the ranks as well as some very talented newcomers and some old heads to bring everything together.
“With a new season and an almost completely new team, I am eagerly awaiting Saturday.”
UNIVERSITY HAWKS
2024 finish: 4th | 4-0-12 (W-D-L)
Coach: Jakob Elvin
Originally published as AFL Townsville 2025: Each club’s major recruits and breakout players
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