Match of the Round Report: Orange Tigers vs Bathurst Giants

Sam Sloan kicks his third goal for the day. - Photo: Ben Neely

 

AFL Central West Men’s Tier 1, Bathurst Giants 9.14-68 defeat Orange Tigers 9.5-59

 

A hat trick from Bathurst Giants forward Sam Sloan in his 50th game has helped his side overcome a first quarter scare as the visitors defeated the Orange Tigers by nine-points at Waratah Sports Club.

The visitors were held to only their second goalless quarter of 2021, as Orange opened up a 36-point lead at the opening break. Despite this, the Giants clawed their way back into the match, trailing by a single point at the final change. The hosts weren’t able to contain the Giants forward line in the fourth quarter, and as a result Bathurst kicked ahead to take the win in the second contest between the sides this year.

Bailey Brien was the other multiple goal scorer alongside Sloan for the visitors whilst Peter Byrne was huge for the hosts, kicking five goals. Todd Fagan also kicked two for the Tigers.

The win now puts the Giants eight points clear of the Tigers on the AFL Central West Tier 1 ladder.

 

Goal Kickers

Orange Tigers: P. Byrne 5, T. Fagan 2, T. Wass, I. Dean

Bathurst Giants: S. Sloan 3, B. Brien 2, E. Carr-Smith, B. Taylor, J. Ashcroft , B. Cross

 

Match Summary

Quarter 1 – Orange Tigers 6.3-39 lead Bathurst Giants 0.3-3

The match started out highly physical as both teams looked to attack the football. After a little back and forth, the visitors got the first opportunity at goal but were unable to convert.

The Tigers then looked to move it back up into their forward line and Thomas Wass kicked the first goal of the game. Todd Fagan soon followed this with a booming kick from a long way out for the host’s second.

Orange looked like a team that came ready to play, as the side were doing everything they could to get possession of the footy. They were in control of the quarter, limiting the Giants attacking opportunities. Soon afterwards, Peter Byrne delivered a beautiful pass to Fagan and the forward converted, putting the hosts up by three goals.

The visitors tried to answer back and put themselves into the game, but the shot at goal hit the post. The Tigers quickly answered back as Byrne kicked the ball along the ground to give his side their fourth goal.

Bathurst appeared shocked and frustrated, as the hosts were answering everything they threw at them. The hosts were looking unstoppable, as the side went on to kick their fifth goal. Byrne finished the quarter strongly, converting a shot from in front to extend the Tigers lead by thirty-six points as the siren sounded.

 

Quarter 2 – Orange Tigers 6.3-39 lead Bathurst Giants 3.6-24

The second quarter started with a bang, as both teams were scrapping for the footy. The Giants looked like a different side as Emmitt Carr-Smith kicked his side’s opening goal from distance.

The visitors were getting the bulk of the possession early on, but the side couldn’t convert their opportunities. This soon changed when Sam Sloan kicked his first for the day, converting from in front.

Emmitt Carr-Smith was in everything for the visitors, doing everything that he could to help the side get opportunities at goal. As a result, the Tigers back-line were out on their feet, scrambling to contain the Giants attack.

Bailey Brien kicked his side’s third goal just before the siren sounded, helping to put the side back within the hosts’ sights.

 

READ: Rep Coaches Announced!

 

Quarter 3 – Orange Tigers 7.4-46 lead Bathurst Giants 6.9-45

The third quarter started out much like the second, as the Giants side looked completely in control. Emmitt Carr-Smith delivered a nice ball into the forward line, but the Tigers defence stepped up, containing the pressure.

Orange got an opportunity five minutes into the quarter and Byrne converted, helping to increase the buffer between the sides. This was only temporary however as the visitors put on the pressure, and kicked another goal to close the gap.

The hosts started to look more comfortable with the football, and both sides got their chances as the quarter went on.  Brody Taylor converted halfway through the quarter, putting the Giants ever so closer. Soon after, the visitors scored again, catching the Tigers by surprise. As the quarter ended, there was a one-point difference between the sides and the Giants looked the most likely to take home the four points.

 

Quarter 4 – Bathurst Giants 9.14-68 defeat Orange Tigers 9.5-59

The Giants started the final quarter hot, getting multiple shots at goal. Although unable to split the middle, the behinds scored gave the Giants their first lead since the game’s early moments.

Before long, Sloan popped up again, kicking a goal to extend the Giants lead. Not long afterwards, Bathurst scored again, building pressure on the Tigers.

Orange hit back, as a strong passage of play resulted in a goal. Samuel Burley looked good for the hosts, defending well and helping his team move the football into the midfield. A late bump by Ryan Cooke gave the Tigers an opportunity and the hosts converted, closing the gap between the sides.

A seesawing quarter could see the game go either way. The Giants led by three points and were playing as if one more goal could seal the game.

A key possession late in the fourth gave the Giants the opportunity to move forward, and a mark by Sloan set up the perfect ending. Sloan kicked his third goal of the game and extended his side’s lead by nine points, putting the game out of reach of the hosts.

The Tigers didn’t give up but time ran out, giving the Giants their fourth win of the year.

 

READ: AFL Central West Round 5 Recap

 

 

Coaches Comments:

On the Game:

Tigers (Dean Price) – “Obviously a disappointing thing, but I thought the boys battled hard. I could see us improving from the last time we played the Giants. The boys really showed what we had in the first quarter, if we could carry that for the other three quarters, we would be singing the song.”

Giants (Mark Kennedy) – “It was a bit of a see-saw. I think we were down by six goals at the end of the first. So then we said that we just need to set some players up behind the football and control the game. I think we got back in the second and third and then we kicked away in the last quarter. But they came back and it was nice and close. We had 11 out of the normal squad so I think we did really well. Heaps of guys stepped up for us today and played well.”

 

On what was said in the huddle:

Tigers – “I told the boys that we need to reset, go back to our style of footy that we played in the first quarter.”

Giants – “We just said we needed to put a bit more effort into it. We weren’t playing our football. We were letting them control it and we needed to take control of the football back off them and play our game plan.”

 

Thoughts on the opposition:

Tigers – “The Giants always present a good challenge. They are a handy side. They are going to be a side that we will be really keen to knock off next time.”

Giants – “The Tigers looked really good. They have some really good sting in the midfield and a good forward line.”

 

On improvements for next game:

Tigers – “I think that with our boys, I think that just our style of footy. I just want the boys to play that well for four quarters, and we will have the top sides.”

Giants – “Just the endeavour. That sheer contestable fortitude around the football. It’s something that we really need to keep that momentum going.”

 

Ben’s Fun Fact:

Through five rounds, the Giants have scored each of their three lowest quarter scores against the Tigers. Orange have traditionally been a strong defensive unit, so with these results in mind, expect them to start making inroads on the two Bathurst teams.

 

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