All eyes will be on the mighty MCG tomorrow night when a bumper 2022 Toyota AFL Premiership season kicks off with a Grand Final rematch between Melbourne and Western Bulldogs.

It will be a significant moment with one of the biggest crowds since the start of the pandemic expected to stack the stands as the Demons unfurl their first premiership flag in 57 years.

One of the gladiators hoping to be run onto the MCG will be former West Gambier premiership star Tim O’Brien.

After playing 87 games wearing the famous #23 for Hawthorn, O’Brien has jumped to the western suburbs of Melbourne and is primed for his first season as a Bulldog.

The big man can play at both ends of the ground with high-flying abilities which could offer Alex Keath significant support in the backline or become another forward target alongside Josh Bruce.

O’Brien’s highlight reel hit new heights against GWS last year when he took an unforgettable speckie at the MCG.

In 2022 he hopes to at least make a finals debut and possibly push for a premiership in the red, white and blue even if a hamstring injury may delay his club debut.

Following the traditional Carlton v Richmond opening round battle, Friday night footy comes back with vigour where two other old rivals face off at Marvel Stadium.

The participants of the infamous 2010 Grand Final draw St Kilda and Collingwood will face off and the former club is the new home of one of the biggest young talents to emerge from Mount Gambier in recent years.

Oscar Adams became South Gambier’s first ever AFL export when he was snapped up at pick 51 in last year’s draft after his hard work driving five hours each week to play for Glenelg was recognised.

Sadly Adams, 18, made headlines for all the wrong reasons last month when he was involved in a car crash.

Fortunately the teenager escaped unhurt and returned home to his family, but the Saints launched an investigation into the matter.

As the season progresses, Adams will be determined to put the incident behind him and show his athletic abilities to press for selection as a potential ruck or defender.

The weekend begins with another battle between Victorian heavyweights Geelong and Essendon.

Both clubs are hoping to be in premiership contention and feature some of the Limestone Coast’s biggest names.

Not long ago Brad Close was turning heads wearing the yellow long sleeve jumper of North Gambier and now he is doing the same in the Cats’ blue and white hoops.

Close put his name up in lights when his career was just 23 seconds young and has continued to go from strength to strength.

The 21-year-old took his game to a new level in 2021, playing 22 of a possible 25 games where he kicked 15 goals.

The huge season means Close will be a key part of Geelong’s forward line with his ability to score sneaky goals, chase down unsuspecting opponents and collect disposals impressing his star-studded teammates.

These efforts mean the Category A Rookie will be in the starting 18 in round 1 after being rewarded with a contract extension over the summer and rated as “above average” by Champion Data.

Alongside Close in the forward 50 will be Dartmoor Giant Jermey Cameron.

Cameron was a big name recruit, but hamstring injuries held back his goal-kicking prowess last year and he will a defender’s nightmare looking to bombard the big sticks and guide the Cats to the holy grail.

Coming up against Close and Cameron will be Millicent’s Mason Redman, who will don the sash for Essendon for the seventh straight year.

After not quite hitting the heights of his breakout 2019 season in 2020, Redman returned to his best last year as a reborn defender.

The key features of his game including intercept marking and lightning speed off halfback, thrived under the guidance of coach Ben Rutten.

The #27 could also feature in the forward 50 from time to time after a launching a goal during his big performance on Anzac Day, plus sparking a unique celebration against GWS.

After extending his deal to at least the end of 2023, Redman will be hoping to be one of the big names to help the Bombers end their drought between finals wins which currently sits at 6402 days.

The pride of Kybybolite town Lachie Neale will once again lead the Brisbane Lions into battle.

Neale was unstoppable during his Brownlow Medal winning season, but his momentum dominating the midfield slowed in 2021 due to injury issues.

However, he sprung back to life come September time when he rewrote the record books collecting the greatest number of disposals in a final with 46 in the Lions’ loss to the Western Bulldogs in the semi.

Following a brief whirlwind trade controversy, Neale has confirmed his intentions to stay at Brisbane for at least the next two years as the club aims to recapture its glory days.

The Adelaide Crows complete the opening round with a home game against Fremantle on Sunday afternoon.

Some of the rural areas on the boundary of the South East make up big parts of the young and developing Crows’ squad.

Jordan Dawson ran around junior Mid South Eastern Football League grounds wearing the tri-colours dreaming of playing for Adelaide and he finally gets the chance in 2022.

Dawson had established himself as one the elite midfielders in the competition during his six-year stint at the Sydney Swans and requested a move back home over the offseason.

After landing the midfielder at West Lakes, plenty of excitement has generated around the club with the new recruit adding some much-needed depth to the Crows’ engine room.

Dawson is a near lock for round 1 alongside Lucindale’s Darcy Fogarty.

Few have more accurate legs than country boy Fogarty, who will be one of the key forwards looking to step up in the absence of Taylor Walker aiming to develop his fitness and four-quarter efforts.

Another rural Limestone Coast talent Luke Pedlar is also determined to make a bigger impact in 2022.

Born in Mount Gambier, but raised in Kingston, Pedlar got his first taste to the top level last year.

However, his season was restricted to just two games against Brisbane and Essendon following an ankle injury.

The solid-bodied midfielder also battled shoulder issues, but could feature much more prominently in 2022 after a strong start to preseason and signing on until 2024.

With so many talented locals to watchout for, the 2022 AFL season promises so much.