Tier 2 take centre stage in standalone senior finals
Parkes Panthers celebrate winning the 2020 AFL Central West Men's Tier 2 Premiership. Can they repeat this in 2022, starting off with a matchup vs that day's opponent, the Cowra Blues
Following the conclusion of the Home & Away season, the finals matchups in Tier 2 are set. Scheduled for NorthParkes Oval, home of the minor premier Parkes Panthers, the seven team comp has been cut to four following 14 rounds of play.
To kick-off proceedings at 11am, Bathurst Bushrangers Rebels take on Dubbo Demons, before the main event Parkes Panthers vs Cowra Blues at 12:30pm. There is a $5 entry fee which includes a ticket into the draw for a meat tray sponsored by Buttabeef Butcher.
Bathurst Bushrangers Rebels vs Dubbo Demons – NorthParkes Oval, 11:00am
Previous matches: Round 3 Rebels 10.3-63 def Demons 4.6-30; Round 8 Demons 8.6-54 def Rebels 5.6-36
Players to watch: Rebels – Scott Jablonskis, Grady Tapping, John Noyen; Demons – Brody Roche, Joe Hedger, Cameron Herd
Season Stats: Rebels (P12, W8, L4, For 797 Against 402 – 198.26%); Demons (P11, W7, L4, For 660 Against 610 – 108.20%)
Leading Goalkickers: Rebels Grady Tapping (20), Jordan Price (14), Jai Bellamy (9); Demons Brody Roche (18), Arend Boog (11), Joe Hedger (10)
Selected Teams
One win apiece in matches between the two sides sets up a thrilling Elimination Final. Arguably the Bushrangers edge is via their Round 6 defeat of Cowra Blues and eight point loss in Round 13, showing that they can compete with the top sides. Their downfall however, is that they’ve only won one match since Round 7 (against wooden-spoon Outlaws).
For Dubbo, it’s been another year of development and another fourth-placed finish. They’ve been able to win all matches when entering as favourites, and picked up the important four points at home to the Rebels in Round 8. They are probably one year away from doing some real damage in the Tier 2 competition as the first crop of Dubbo Junior AFL Under-17s age into seniors.
With the two senior sides split, a key outcome of the match could be how many players depart before the final siren to get to Bathurst for Dubbo’s Tier 1 match. If this occurs, you’d expect the Rebels to be every chance of a late-match comeback if trailing into the last.
The Rebels haven’t won outside Bathurst since a Round 1 victory vs Orange, whilst for Dubbo, road trips have been toughest when split from the Tier 1 side (74-point loss to Parkes, 50-point loss to Cowra).
WE SAY: Although not winning last time out, the Rebels found some form against the Blues in Round 13, and their performances against Parkes and Cowra have them justifiably rated as the best of the rest. Rebels by 16 points to end Dubbo’s season.
Parkes Panthers vs Cowra Blues – NorthParkes Oval, 12:30pm
Previous matches: Round 1 Panthers 9.9-63 def Blues 1.9-15; Round 11 Blues 1.2-8 def by Panthers 7.14-56
Players to watch: Panthers – Mitchell Stubberfield, Alex Boyd, Peter Webb; Blues Brayden Harmer-Clark, Nathan Worth, Blair Holgate
Season Stats: Panthers (P12, W12, L0, For 1116, Against 159 – 701.89%); Blues (P12, W9, L3, For 982, Against 360 – 267.22%)
Leading Goalkickers: Panthers Alex Boyd (32), Mark Simmonds (20), Jye Dillon (16); Blues Nathan Worth (45), Caleb Worth (19), Frank Bright (14)
Selected Teams
Fittingly, the competition’s two best offences and two best defences clash in the Tier 2 Qualifying Final. Parkes on home soil will be a tough test for the Blues, however having the double chance will allow the visitors to play aggressively.
Whilst they enter as favourites, the only hiccup in the Panthers’ game is their accuracy in front of goals. Although this hasn’t seen them drop points, their past four matches have yielded returns of 7.13 (vs Orange), 7.15 (vs Rebels), 7.14 (vs Cowra) and 12.17 (vs Dubbo). It’s a pretty simple scenario for the hosts, kick straight and they’ll blow their opponents away.
Both teams are strong through the midfield, and have strong targets up forward. Accuracy troubles at times aside, Parkes boast four of the top ten goalkickers (Boyd, Simmonds, Dillon, and Jonty Ralph), whilst Cowra’s Caleb and Nathan Worth have combined for 64 majors between them. Should Parkes lose the midfield battle, keeping the Worth’s quiet removes much of the Cowra offensive pressure and brings great counter-attacking options on the large field into play.
READ: Road to the Finals – 2022 Season
The Blues were tested heavily against the Rebels in their final round match, as scores were level with fewer than five minutes remaining. If able to keep it close, their experience with these matches will be significant considering Parkes’ three closest games have been 36 (Orange), and 40 (Rebels twice).
Cowra are however, without 2021 Tier 2 Best & Fairest Frank Bright, who hasn’t played since Round 7 due to injury. The side have done well to keep the wins coming without him, but not being full-strength adds to the challenge that is defeating the Panthers.
WE SAY: It takes a brave person to tip against a team who’s unbeaten in 24-straight games. Panthers by 37 points to make it 25-straight and confirm a spot in the big one.
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