The Road to Finals: Women’s Mid-Season review
With 4 rounds left of Women’s footy, here is everything you need to know as we move towards the final third of the season.
Bathurst Giants
Ladder Position: First
Win-Loss: 10-0
Points: 40
For: 627 (1st)
Against: 147 (1st)
Percentage: 426.53
Leading goal kicker: Hailee Provest (20 goals)
Mid-season review:
The Bathurst Giants have been the standout team this year. With a 10-0 record, the Giants have not lost a single game this season. They haven’t looked troubled either, as they have won a lot of their matches by 4+ goals with their biggest being a 98 point win over the Orange Tigers. The Giants don’t look like they are done yet either, and with four games left, pencil in four more wins for the minor premiers.
The run home: Demons (A), Tigers (A), Demons (H), Bushrangers (A)
Projected finish: First
The Bathurst Giants show no signs of slowing down. Having won their last five matches of the 2020 season on route to the premiership, the Giants remain unbeaten through ten in 2021. All eyes will be on the Round 12 match versus the Demons, shaping as a likely Grand Final match-up. The Giants will go into this match confident, having not lost to Dubbo since the 2018 Grand Final.
Dubbo Demons
Ladder Position: Second
Win-Loss: 5-5
Points: 20
For: 381 (2nd)
Against: 337 (2nd)
Percentage: 113.06
Leading goal kicker: Lauren Hazell (19 goals)
Mid-season review:
The Dubbo Demons have looked the best of the rest in 2021. Whilst the side currently sits at 5-5, they are in a great spot to have an impact come finals time. The Demons have enjoyed good results over the Orange Tigers and Bathurst Bushrangers, struggling only against the unbeaten Giants. If there is going to be a team that can upset the Giants, the Demons will most likely be that team.
The run home: Giants (H), Bushrangers (A), Giants (A), Tigers (H)
Projected finish: Second
Whilst they had a slight hiccup in Orange, the Demons have shown all season that they are the likely grand final opponents for the Giants. The away trip to Bushrangers in Round 13 will be circled as their best chance to secure second place. A Tigers victory in this week’s game versus Bushrangers would confirm their spot in the three. They can’t catch the Giants, but they’ve beaten them before in a Grand Final, so will be confident if they get there.
Orange Tigers
Ladder Position: Third
Win-Loss: 3-7
Points: 12
For: 141 (4th)
Against: 448 (3rd)
Percentage: 31.47
Leading goal kicker: Emma Clark (7 goals)
Mid-season review:
The Orange Tigers have enjoyed a mixed season so far this year. The side didn’t win a game until Round 6, where they defeated the Bathurst Bushrangers by 14-points. Since that victory, they have gone 2-2 with wins over both the Demons and Bushrangers. The side has seen continued improvement over the year and in Round 10, they only lost by 14-points to the undefeated Bathurst Giants. If the side can continue improving over their next four games, they could be in for a real chance for a grand final spot.
The run home: Bushrangers (A), Giants (H), Bushrangers (H), Demons (A)
Projected finish: Third
Whilst the Tigers’ form suggests further wins are on the cards, we can’t see them doing enough to leapfrog the Demons. Blame the slow start for that, but they’ll want to collect wins in both Bushrangers outings. A massive test which could be a playoff for second in Round 15, away to the Demons.
Bathurst Bushrangers
Ladder Position: Fourth
Win-Loss: 2-8
Points: 8
For: 234 (3rd)
Against: 451 (4th)
Percentage: 51.88
Leading goal kicker: Kelsey Richards (10 goals)
Mid-season review:
The Bathurst Bushrangers haven’t enjoyed the best of seasons in 2021, winning only two games so far. Despite only winning the two games, the side still has a real shot of making finals footy. They only trail the Orange Tigers by 4 points, so if the Bushrangers can pick up a few wins in the next few weeks, they could give themselves a good shot of making it. They need to improve their attack though, as the side has struggled to score points in the past few weeks.
The run home: Tigers (H), Demons (H), Tigers (A), Giants (H)
Projected finish: Fourth
Unfortunately for the Bushrangers, the Tigers have surpassed them in the second half of the season. Whilst the early season victories boded well for the former competition heavyweights, this season has turned into a stream of defeats. If they can beat the Tigers on Mulyan Oval this week, something they did when winning the 2016 Premiership, their finals hopes will remain. A loss will likely end their season, as we cannot see them taking down the Dees or Giants.
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