The Road to Finals: Men’s Tier 2 Mid-Season Review
With only 4 rounds left of Men’s Tier 2 footy, here is everything you need to know as we move towards the final third of the season.
Parkes Panthers
Ladder Position: First
Win-Loss: 7-0 (1 no result)
Points: 38
For: 702 (1st)
Against: 67 (1st)
Percentage: 1047.76
Leading goal kicker: Jonathan Morell (19 goals)
Mid-season review:
The Parkes Panthers have been the team to beat in Men’s Tier 2 competition this year. The side has been impressive throughout the 2021 season, having stayed undefeated so far. Their biggest test was in Round 7, when they defeated Cowra by 37 points in an entertaining encounter. They have enjoyed quite a number of dominant performances as well, including an 180-point win over the Giants. Their forward line has enjoyed a great deal of success, with Jonathan Morell kicking 19 goals and Braeden Snow kicking 12.
The run home: Tigers (H), Bushrangers Outlaws (H), Giants (H), Bushrangers Rebels (A)
Projected finish: First
They have a great run home, with their next three matches all bottom four opponents so expect them to win these comfortably. The Bushrangers Rebels road trip in the final round could pose a stumbling block, however this acts as a great test ahead of the finals. We don’t see the Panthers dropping a game before the finals, which would make it 17-straight wins dating back to Round 9 2020.
Cowra Blues
Ladder Position: Second
Win-Loss: 5-2 (1 no result)
Points: 30
For: 419 (3rd)
Against: 226 (2nd)
Percentage: 185.40
Leading goal kicker: Nathan Worth (20 goals)
Mid-season review:
It’s been a fairly interesting season so far for the Cowra Blues. The side started their 2021 campaign in Round 2, when they defeated Dubbo by 56-points. Their first test against Parkes was scheduled for Round 4, but the game was unfortunately called off. The side finally got their chance to go against the Panthers in Round 7, but were defeated by 37-points. The side has managed to hold onto second place with key wins against the Bushrangers Rebels and Bushrangers Outlaws.
The run home: Giants (A), Demons (H), Bushrangers Rebels (H), Tigers (A)
Projected finish: Second
Games against Dubbo and Orange should be winnable for last year’s grand finalists. Whilst they have a tough game against third place Rebels, we don’t see a loss here impacting their ability to finish second. They’ll need to travel for finals, so their match against Orange in Round 15 will be a great opportunity to test themselves on the road.
Bathurst Bushrangers Rebels
Ladder Position: Third
Win-Loss: 5-3
Points: 28
For: 400 (4th)
Against: 434 (3rd)
Percentage: 92.17
Leading goal kicker: Jai Bellamy (11 goals)
Mid-season review:
The Bathurst Bushrangers Rebels have had a fairly successful season so far. They didn’t start the season off well, losing by 72-points to the Parkes Panthers, but they bounced back with a three game winning streak. Since then, the side has enjoyed some fairly tight games, including a one-point win over the Orange Tigers in Round 8. Their recent 111-point loss to Cowra in Round 9 won’t help them, but the side may have done enough already.
The run home: Bushrangers Outlaws (H), Tigers (H), Blues (A), Panthers (H)
Projected finish: Third
Even the Bushrangers hierarchy wouldn’t have picked that their Rebels and Outlaws sides would be fighting each other for the final spot in the top 3. With tough matches across the final two rounds, the Rebels must win their upcoming games against their clubmates and Orange. That would get them to 36-points and have locked third position in ahead of those two blockbusters.
Bathurst Bushrangers Outlaws
Ladder Position: Fourth
Win-Loss: 4-4
Points: 24
For: 313 (5th)
Against: 474 (4th)
Percentage: 66.03
Leading goal kicker: Cameron Richards (7 goals)
Mid-season review:
The Bathurst Bushrangers Outlaws were touted as a development team, but the team has enjoyed quite a bit of success this season. The side started out their 2021 campaign with a 54-point win over the Orange Tigers. The next two week wasn’t so good for the new side, as they were comfortably defeated by Parkes and Cowra respectively. They showed up to play the following week in the Bushrangers derby, only narrowly losing to the Bushrangers Rebels. Since then, the side has enjoyed some good victories which has helped put them just outside the top 3.
The run home: Bushrangers Rebels (H), Panthers (A), Demons (H), Giants (H)
Projected finish: Fourth
A win this week would throw a spanner in the mix and would make their Rebels’ clubmates very nervous over the remaining games. We see the Outlaws dropping their next two matches, before finishing with wins at home. That would get them a 6-6 season, an outstanding result for the team.
Dubbo Demons
Ladder Position: Fifth
Win-Loss: 4-6
Points: 16
For: 533 (2nd)
Against: 510 (5th)
Percentage: 104.51
Leading goal kicker: Joseph Hedger (13 goals)
Mid-season review:
It’s been a interesting one so far for the Dubbo Demons. The side has actually been fairly strong offensively this season sitting 2nd overall on points for, but their defence has been a problem. Their season didn’t start too well, losing their opening 3 games whilst battling injuries in the top tier. The Dees bounced back in Round 4, defeating the Tigers by 23 points. Since then though, it’s been a mixed bag, losing games to the Bushrangers Rebels, Bushrangers Outlaws, and Parkes Panthers. They have enjoyed some success in recent weeks, with wins over the Giants and Tigers respectively.
The run home: BYE, Blues (A), Bushrangers Outlaws (A), BYE
Projected finish: Fifth
Whilst we don’t see the Dees picking up another win this season, it should remain enough as those below them have tough runs home too. They’ll have circled the match against the Outlaws as their best chance, and could be boosted in confidence having seen their Tier 1 side win in Bathurst a fortnight ago. A great first season in the competition, and one to build on in 2022.
Bathurst Giants
Ladder Position: Sixth
Win-Loss: 2-7
Points: 12
For: 353 (6th)
Against: 667 (7th)
Percentage: 52.92
Leading goal kicker: Christopher Smart (7 goals)
Mid-season review:
The Bathurst Giants season so far hasn’t been the best on paper, but they have also lost some really close games. Their 2021 campaign actually started well, with a 15-point win over the Demons. The following week wasn’t so good, with the Giants suffering a big defeat to the Bushrangers Rebels. The side tried to bounce back in Round 3, but narrowly lost to the Tigers by nine-points. Round 6 was much the same, as the side lost by nine-points to the Bushrangers Outlaws. The side only just lost out to Cowra in Round 8, losing by 14-points. The side has had a few blowout losses as well, with their 180-point loss to Parkes being the most prominent.
The run home: Blues (H), BYE, Panthers (A), Bushrangers Outlaws (A)
Projected finish: Sixth
Like Dubbo, the Giants should be incredibly proud of their first season in Tier 2. They’ve picked up a couple of wins, and been competitive in many matches. Unfortunately, their run home is tough, and they’ll need to beat both the Panthers and Outlaws in the final two rounds to climb the ladder further. They won’t drop down though, as if you thought their run home was tough, the seventh-placed Tigers is worse.
Orange Tigers
Ladder Position: Seventh
Win-Loss: 2-7
Points: 12
For: 271 (7th)
Against: 553 (6th)
Percentage: 49.01
Leading goal kicker: Tyson Hannus (11 goals)
Mid-season review:
Like the Giants, this hasn’t been the best of seasons for the Orange Tigers. The side has only won two games so far this season, with their first win coming from a nine-point victory over the Giants in Round 3. Their other victory came in Round 5, as they defeated the Bushrangers Outlaws by 12-points. Since then, the team hasn’t able to produce a win, losing their last five games. With three games left, the side will look to finish their season off strong.
The run home: Panthers (A), Bushrangers Rebels (A), BYE, Blues (H)
Projected finish: Seventh
It shapes as another season with the spoon for the Tigers Tier 2 side. They’ve had a better run this year with fielding a side, but their remaining games are against positions one, three and two. We can’t see any opportunity for an upset here, but the two win season would still be an improvement on 2020.
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