AFL QUEENSLAND CEO DEAN WARREN Welcome to the 2019 AFL Queensland Capricornia Grand Final Day. The Capricornia region has witnessed fantastic growth in AFL participation over the past few years, particularly in the women’s space. Thank you to all involved for your ongoing commitment to growing our game in the Capricornia region. This year we appointed our inaugural AFL Queensland Capricornia Region Advisory Board. Thank you to all our Capricornia Advisory Board Members who have provided outstanding support to our Capricornia regional staff in delivering a professionally run competition. Congratulations to all the Teams and Umpires who are represented in Grand Finals this weekend. Community footy would simply not be possible without the hard work of everyone behind the scenes. Volunteers ensure community football provides a welcoming and inclusive environments, a place where people can come together to enjoy our great game. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our clubs for organising the army of volunteers who bring our game to life each week. Good luck to all the teams competing in Grand Finals today and thank you for your support of Capricornia footy. Dean Warren, AFL Queensland CEO On behalf of AFL Queensland we would like to welcome you to the Capricornia Grand Final Day! A reminder to all spectators that all Junior matches are alcohol and smoking free. Thank you to the Rockhampton Panthers AFC, and all those involved, for the work that has gone into hosting today's matches. Please note that we will have event officials around the ground today, if you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact one of our officials. Our events tent is located near the canteen should you require any further assistance. We would like to give special thanks to all partners and sponsors that make football in the Capricornia region a success. AFLQ COMPETITION MANAGER BRAD MATHESON 2019 was another huge year for AFL in Regional QLD, and the Capricornia Region continued to make massive steps in the progression of our game. Once again we have been fortunate to have the corporate Partnership with the Frenchville Sports Club and we are thrilled to see this Partnership continuously evolving. We kicked off the year with an AFLX Carnival at the Frenchville Sports Club which was the first of its kind in Queensland and the first time The Frenchville Sports Club facilitated our great game. We were able to continue to grow our exposure at the fantastic facilities of Ryan Park with Youth Girls AFLX Grand Final and later a Youth AFLX Carnival was played as part of the NAIDOC week celebrations. Our Game Development Team has been hard at it again this year continuing to increase the exposure that we are gaining through School Programs, AUSKICK centres and Community Programs. Regional Manager, Scott Smithwick, has done a mountain of work with his team with promotion and exposure of our game beyond our Region and well into the Central Queensland Communities. This includes engagement in towns such as Blackwater and Emerald nearing 100 participants at their Community AUSKICK centres. The impact this promotion has had on our competition is evident with participation growing yearly and Friday night football surpassing 350 registrations for the first time ever. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the Club Presidents, Coaches, Volunteers and support networks that have done an outstanding job in continuing to develop their Clubs and increasing the presentation of our Game. To our Umpiring department you have again done an outstanding job in ensuring that matches are officiated on a weekly basis. Finally to all Teams & Umpires that have been rewarded for hard work, reaching this years Grand Final Matches, I wish you all the best of luck and look forward to showcasing our game on the biggest day of the Footballing Calendar. YOUTH MATCHES BITS SAINTS U 17 V 11:25 am GLENMORE BULLS YEPPOON SWANS U 15 V 9:50 am ROCKHAMPTON PANTHERS BITS SAINTS U 13 V 8:30 am YEPPOON SWANS SENIOR MATCHES YEPPOON SWANS Seniors V 5:15 pm ROCKHAMPTON PANTHERS BROTHERS KANGAROOS Women V 3:30 pm ROCKHAMPTON PANTHERS BITS SAINTS Reserves V 1:20pm YEPPOON SWANS REGIONAL UMPIRE MANAGER STEVE MAXWELL On behalf of all Umpires I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to umpiring in season 2019. All clubs have contributed towards umpiring on occasions and we appreciate the time volunteers provided. Umpiring within the Capricornia Region has always provided highlights throughout the season and I’m positive this will continue into season 2020. Personally I’m looking forward to working in the region to assist with growth and development of umpires of all disciplines to improve skills and communication within our group. I would like to thank Damien Mitchelmore (Community Umpires Development Manager) who is always available to provide on going support. Thanks to Brad Matheson who I’m reminding regularly umpiring is always enjoyable and as rewarding as we make it. A special mention to our Sponsors, Wrapt in Print and Ian Weigh Toyota thank you for your financial support to our group is extremely valued. Moving forward I believe there is also a huge opportunity for woman to become umpires in our region for extra fitness and learning more about our great game, meeting many new people and enjoying the environment which we provide. AFLCUA is also in the process of negotiating a home of our own and individual training center, and a venue for social gatherings, as we have been without since the beginning which no doubt would be extremely beneficial for growth, skills and continued improvement, within the region. Congratulations also to Lochlan Caldwell from Yeppoon who has been invited to participate at the state U14 Championships in Brisbane during the September month. Lochlan is also completing his on field accreditation for season 2020 and look forward to continue his training and development into Senior Umpiring. Finally to all clubs, umpires and volunteers who are participating Grand Final Day, our hosts the Panthers Football Club and everyone enjoying the day may the best teams win and everyone can walk away with AFL being the winner within the region. Brent Peterson Skye Lee-Howard Lucas Christian U 13 Darren Lawson Alyssa Ruff Mike Visser Rhys Matthews Ernie Tull U 15 Steve Maxwell Caden Ruff Nick Clarke Drewe Hetherton Alyssa Ruff Thomas Skye Lee-Howard Kapernick Rhys Matthews Matthew Hull Blake Francis Bob Davies U 17 Brent Peterson Caden Ruff Rob Teakle Tim Steers Hamish McDonald Ernie Tull Brent Peterson Mason Jeffery Lucas Christian Reserves Darren Lawson Jasper Petherick Mike Visser Drewe Hetherton Lachlan Elliott Rhys Matthews Lochlan Caldwell Caden Ruff Bob Davies Women Tim Steers Alyssa Ruff Rob Teakle Greg Heni Ernie Tull Steve Maxwell Hamish McDonald Nick Clarke Seniors Mike Hinds Blake Francis Thomas Scott Mills Lachlan Elliott Kapernick Jackson Ivey Youth Football in our Region has continued to flourish of recent years and with some of the local talent on display this year we are set for some exciting times in the future. The talent with in our Region was further reflected this year as we have had, for the first time 4 players selected to represent QLD in their various age divisions. Congratulations to Brooke Sheridan (U12 School Girls), Xavier mason (U15 School Boys), Jayren Willie (U16 Males) & Sara-Jane O'Grady (U18 Females). Added to these individual honours the success of all our Youth Representative Teams this year at their respictive North Queensland Chamionships is further indication to the strength of Youth Football in our Region. The introduction of Youth Girls this year is a great sign for the opportunity for the development of Female Footballers in our Competitions. In a show of strength through their Youth Footballers, the BITS Saints, Took out a clean sweep at the recent Awards Presentation held at the Frenchville Sports Club with Max Marsh (U13), Jordan Jacobsen (U15) & Mason Gates (U17) taking out the top honour in their respective age groups. Now for a look at todays matches ............... UNDER 13 THE BITS Saints have shown this year that, when they are able to get their full team together, they can be one of the most damaging sides of the competition. They boast a very even spread across the field with some damaging talls complementing a good group of small runners. For the Swans they have again continued to grow as the season progressed and have shown true grit to keep themselves in matches. They have been tested through this years finals series but a come from behind win on the road in Gladstone and then holding off a late charge by Brothers has given them 2 good wins and a confidence boost leading into today's match UNDER 15 These two sides provide class all over the field. Panthers have shown a good mix through the midfield this year which has provided the forwards with plenty of option, the likes of Cooper England taking full advantage of this kicking 100 goals in the home and away season. However the Swans boast a very classy midfield of their own and the potential match ups through the middle of the ground sets the scene for an intense battle today. With both teams boasting great ball movement and plenty of pace it could come down to which defensive unit can stand up and limit the oppositions scoring opportunities UNDER 17 Undoubtedly the Bulls have been one of the good news stories of the year to go from a couple of years of battling in this age group to progessing all the way through to the Big Dance.