Photo Credit: Liam Emerton | Jourdan Novak, Competition Manager of AFL Capricornia and Panthers Senior Vice-President Kiralea Walsh
Triple M Festival of Footy returns to kick start the 2026 AFL Capricornia Season. The event derived from the AFL’s Gather Round, will once again see all six AFL Capricornia Clubs Senior Women's and Men's sides compete at the one venue across the same weekend.
Rockhampton Cricket Ground (RCG) will again host the biggest weekend of the regular season, continuing their hosting agreement of Festival of Footy in 2026. The home of the Rockhampton Panthers will see games kick off after lunch on Friday April 10 and continue through until Saturday April 11.
Rockhampton Panthers President Tom Kneen is thrilled to see the event return to RCG.
“It’s great for our footy community to have an event like this to bring us all together, and what better place to hold it then at the Rockhampton Cricket Ground,” he said.
The fixtures for the competitive games will again be determined by the finishing placing of the 2025 season, leading to the Grand Final rematches to headline the Saturday games.
Next year, Friday night will be dedicated to the Youth players with both Under 16s Futures Games being held under the bright lights of RCG.
Photo: Xavier McWhinney evading the incoming tackle from Jack Warry.
Competition Manager Jourdan Novak said, “The Futures games this year gave a wonderful opportunity to a huge group of youth players to showcase their talents and skills at a higher level than regular club footy.”
“When planning for next year’s event was underway, the Futures games were one of the major priorities to fit into the schedule again.”
The full schedule of games is confirmed with game times subject to change.
Friday, April 10
4:35pm | U16 Futures – Girls
6:10pm | U16 Futures – Boys
Saturday, April 11
9:10am | Rockhampton Panthers vs Gladstone Suns – Senior Women
10:45am | Brothers Kangaroos vs Gladstone Suns – Senior Men
12:55pm | B.I.T.S Saints vs Glenmore Bulls – Senior Women
2:30pm | B.I.T.S Saints vs Rockhampton Panthers – Senior Men
4:40pm | Brothers Kangaroos vs Yeppoon Swans – Senior Women
6:15pm | Yeppoon Swans vs Glenmore Bulls – Senior Men
Photo: Glenmore's Haidyn Thomas kicking to advantage against Yeppoon in the 2025 Grand Final.
Along with the confirmed on-field content, the fun and festivities will continue off the field with activations running throughout the entire weekend. AFL Queensland staff will host a School Holiday Program over both Friday and Saturday afternoons, and Triple M Central Queensland will also run activations Saturday morning.
Further information and the nomination process regarding the Under 16s Futures Games will be made available shortly, keep an eye on the AFL Capricornia Socials.