Round 1 2013
AFL Capricornia 2013 Premiership Season
At Clinton Park Gladstone
Gladstone Mudcrabs V's BITS Saints
Coach: Luke Berry Coach: Damien Lyon
The Boyne Island/Tannum Sands Saints have been the power house of the league for the past decade.
In their past 7 encounters the Saints enjoy a 5 to 2 win ratio over their cross town rivals.
Last season the Muddies held the Saints to 2 wins & 2 losses though one of the losses was in front of a record grand final crowd at the Rockhampton Cricket Ground.
From a new season perspective both clubs have named A Grade squads with a smattering of names from their grand final clash last year like Dan Hunt, Jamie Cunninghame, Brendon Clarke and the Shippard brothers back for another season. Gladstone have lost some well performed players to some employment opportunities on Curtis Island and have had to rely on some of the younger reserve grade players stepping up a grade but they still have Captain Ricky Windridge, Dale Sparkman, Shane Eilola and new player coach Luke Berry at their disposal.
Both clubs have new coaches and appear to have recruited fairly well but the Saints will start as firm favourites.
At Swan Park Yeppoon
Yeppoon Swans V's Rockhampton Panthers
Coach: Dale Wetzler Coach: Clinton Evans
The rivalry between the Yeppoon Swans and Rockhampton Panthers has taken on a traditional “my town versus your town” atmosphere in recent years and this match may prove to be close and hard.
Panthers have recruited well after finishing fifth last year. At the round robin carnival in Yeppoon before Easter the Panthers had some outstanding performances from Mt Isa recruits Cal and Johnny Hockley, Dwayne Farrell and Marcus Kickett from the famous W.A. football family which produced Dale Kickett who actually played for 5 different clubs in the AFL.
It could prove to be a much better season for Panthers despite the loss of Stephen Mills and Hamish Davidson who have been included in the Gold Coast Suns program at Southport.
The Swans biggest asset has been the production line of players graduating from the club’s junior program.
Coached by former junior Dale Wetzler, they have the likes of Zeppelin Roberts, Sebastian Kilpatrick-Brazier and 2012 Bernie Gottke Medal winner Matt Wallin all ex Swannie juniors at their disposal…this match is too close to call.
At Kele Park West Rockhampton
Brothers ‘Roos V's Glenmore Bulls
Coach: Jeff Lyon Coach: Greg Russell
Cross town rivals each with a new coach. Both club line ups feature the normal newcomers, young players playing senior footy for the first time and a smattering of dedicated veterans.
Despite being one of the best set up clubs in the league the Bulls haven’t won a premiership since their “threepeat”in 1988, 89 and 1990 and are desperate for a flag … The club looked more than competent at their hit out in the round robin carnival before Easter despite being disadvantaged when they were unable to train on their ground at Stenlake Park for 4 weeks during re-turfing of a large section of the field. Glenmore too, have put a lot of effort into the junior ranks which have proved more than productive with two of the players to take the field against Brothers, Luke Saunders and Brandon Chadwick already inducted into the Suns Football academy.
Brothers have looked to the west namely the Bowen Basin for some experienced recruits, one of whom, former Panthers premiership player Liam Kronk who won the Bernie Gottke medal in 2007 has joined Brothers for this season.
Only time will tell if the experiment will be successful. Training and transport arrangements will be the big issue but there are numerous Australian Rules Footballers at work in the coal industry who will be capable of strengthening the Brothers squad.
Enjoy the footy
Broady
Last Modified on 12/04/2013 11:32