A tale of derbies, rivalries, and unbeaten seasons
Bathurst Bushrangers host Saturday's Senior Grand Finals, with their Tier 1 and Tier 2 Rebels sides in action. PHOTO: Contributed - Bathurst Bushrangers
September 3, 2022. After 19-weeks and 217 scheduled matches across all seven grades AFL Central West Senior Grand Final has arrived. George Park 2, as it did six days prior for the juniors, plays host to proceedings. It’s a massive day for sport across the region, particularly in Bathurst with several Grand Finals being contested. For us, all eyes will be on GP2 and the three senior Grand Finals.
To celebrate the 40-years of Central West footy, the league have arranged representatives of the inaugural winners for each competition grade to present the premiership medals and trophies. Representing 1982 First Grade Premiers, Young Saints is club legend Geoff Harmer, with Dubbo Demons’ Joe Knagge representing their 1984 Reserves triumph. Plenty has changed over 40-seasons, including the introduction of Women’s football. Foundation member of the Women’s competition, and member of the Bushrangers’ 2015, ’16 & ’17 premierships, Abbey Hardie, will assist the Women’s presentations.
Parkes Panthers open proceedings against Bathurst Bushrangers Rebels, the third-ranked side beating Dubbo and Cowra to reach the Grand Final. The unbeaten side enter likely favourites, however this isn’t the Rebels of the Home & Away season. It’s a mouthwatering encounter to kick off the day. A team unbeaten in their past 25, up against a Bushrangers Rebels side who’ve found form when it matters, in front of the home fans.
Like Parkes before them, the Women’s Grand Final finds a team who’s also enjoyed a lengthy winning streak. The premier side of the past four seasons Bathurst Giants, will seek further redemption against a Dubbo Demons side who took Premiership glory from their grasp in 2018. That loss kickstarted an incredible run, with only one loss between 2019-2021. Things haven’t been as straight forward this season, with Emily Warner and co taking two matches off the Giants.
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Finally, what a matchup to conclude the day. A rematch of the 2020 Grand Final, and (had the season not been abandoned), a likely rematch of 2021. A Bathurst derby in Tier 1. The Bushrangers with an unbeaten H&A season, a feat which hadn’t occurred in a full first grade season since their 2013 Minor Premiership side. A Bathurst Giants side, in coach Mark Kennedy’s final match, aiming to repeat what the Orange Tigers did to those Bushrangers, by handing them their season’s first loss, on the final day.
Schedule: AFL Central West Grand Final Day – Saturday September 3, George Park 2, Bathurst
- Tier 2 Men’s – Parkes Panthers vs Bathurst Bushrangers Rebels, 11am
- Women’s – Bathurst Giants vs Dubbo Demons, 12:30pm
- Tier 1 Men’s – Bathurst Bushrangers vs Bathurst Giants, 2:15pm
Matchday Program – AFL CW Senior Grand Final
Tier 2 Grand Final: Parkes Panthers (1) vs Bathurst Bushrangers Rebels (3)
Previous matches:
Round 8 – Bushrangers Rebels 6.5-41 def by Panthers 11.15-81, Round 12 – Panthers 7.15-57 def Bushrangers Rebels 2.5-17
Road to the Grand Final:
Panthers – Panthers 6.5-41 def Cowra Blues 3.1-19 (QF)
Rebels – Bushrangers Rebels 9.7-61 def Dubbo Demons 1.3-9 (EF), Cowra Blues 2.6-18 def by Bushrangers Rebels 7.4-46
Players to watch:
Panthers – Peter Webb, Mitchell Stubberfield, Alex Boyd, Paul Willersdorf
Bushrangers Rebels – Scott Jablonskis, Jordan Price, Grady Tapping, Reece Belmonte
Season Stats:
Panthers – P12, W12, L0, For 1116, Against 159 , 701.89% (Finals P1, W1)
Bushrangers Rebels – P12, W8, L4, For 797, Against 402, 198.26% (Finals P2, W2)
Leading Goalkickers (inside Top-20):
Panthers – Alex Boyd (32), Mark Simmonds (22), Jye Dillon (16), Jonty Ralph (14), Mitchell Stubberfield (12), Josh Duffy (9)
Bushrangers Rebels – Grady Tapping (26), Jordan Price (14), Scott Jablonskis (9), Jai Bellamy (9)
Preview:
2022 was another season unbeaten for the Panthers, a 25-match winning streak which dates back to Round 7 2020. Again the benchmark of the Tier 2 competition, the Panthers weathered losing a significant group of their 2021 Minor Premiership side, to reset, rebuild and deliver more success to the community.
Led expertly by coach Mitchell Stubberfield, and captain Peter Webb, the side have looked dominant for a majority of the season. The key to their success has been a miserly defence who’ve conceded only 159-points.
With six players in the top-20 for the league’s leading goalkicker, there’s been no shortage of offence at NorthParkes Oval this season, with several new faces providing the goods in front of goal. First year players Alex Boyd (32 goals), Mark Simmonds (22) have excelled, and although at times wayward on goal, the forward core have reaped the rewards from the volume of delivery they receive.
Their opponents are no strangers to Grand Final day, with a majority of Bushrangers Rebels having played Tier 1 or Reserves Grand Finals. Many have progressed through the junior ranks into senior footy, and they’ve been an exciting team to watch in 2022.
Reece Belmonte has arguably been their standout performer this finals campaign, with Scott Jablonskis, John Noyen, and Jordan Price all having dominant years. The evergreen Brian Matheson wound-back the clock for their Elimination Final victory. The likely Boyd-Matheson matchup shapes as a crucial one today.
Any question marks around the Rebels’ ability to score have been cancelled over their two finals performances, both matches outscoring what Parkes were able to achieve in their only match.
PREDICTION:
We simply can’t go past the unbeaten Minor Premiers in this one, and whilst the two previous clashes were decided by 40-points, anticipate a much closer encounter with arguably the Rebels best outfit for the season. Panthers by 22-points.
Women’s Grand Final: Bathurst Giants (1) vs Dubbo Demons (2)
Previous matches:
Round 1 – Giants 4.12-36 def Dubbo 3.3-21, Round 5 – Dubbo 5.3-33 def Giants 4.4-28, Round 7 – Dubbo 4.1-25 def by Giants 6.4-39, Round 10 – Giants 4.2-26 def by Dubbo 9.5-59, Round 13 – Dubbo 2.1-13 def by Giants 9.8-62
Players to watch:
Giants – Katie Kennedy, Olivia Johnston, Zoe Peters, Tasmyn Davies
Dubbo – Emily Warner, Kaitlyn Waldie, Lauren Hazell, Brooklyn Talbot
Season Stats:
Giants – P14, W12, L2, For 981, Against 222, 441.89%
Dubbo – P15, W11, L4, For 763, Against 321, 237.69% (Finals P1, W1)
Leading Goalkickers (inside Top-20):
Giants – Olivia Johnston (41), Elise Gullifer (23), Hailee Taylor (19), Tamara Thompson (16), Tasmyn Davies (9), Molly McCrossin (9), Zoe Peters (7), Molly Mann (6)
Dubbo – Emily Warner (23), Lauren Hazell (23), Alicia Hafoka (17), Keeghan Tucker (10), Kaitlyn Waldie (6), Korine Coleman (5)
Preview:
The Giants have remained the team to beat all year, with only Dubbo achieving this feat, and rightfully go into the game as favourites following a fourth consecutive Minor Premiership.
Both sides have significant firepower up front, with 14 of the competition’s top-20 goal scorers playing today. Following two seasons of development, 2022 was a breakout year for star key forward Olivia Johnston. Her 41 goals 18-clear of the next best haul including 10 in five matches against Dubbo. For Dubbo to have any chance, they need to restrict the midfield’s delivery, and take Johnston out of the game.
The usual suspects will need to perform for Dubbo. Emily Warner has had yet another outstanding season, and will need to be at her best. Kaitlyn Waldie will also play a key role through the midfield, likely matching up on Katie Kennedy. This matchup, between two of the competition’s finest midfielders, will set the tone for the game.
Whilst stopping Johnston will play a role, the Giants’ small forwards including Tamara Thompson, Zoe Peters. Elise Gullifer and Hailee Taylor are more than capable of piling on a score.
Across the two sides, there are several graduates of the Youth Girls program, including the promising Tasmyn Davies and Brooklyn Talbot, both of whom have had outstanding years in their first seasons of senior footy.
PREDICTION:
The first three matches were nail biters, with the Dees belting the Giants in Round 10, and the reverse occurring in Round 13. The sides are one-apiece against one-another on Grand Final day, and this one shapes as being one of the Women’s competition’s greatest finishes. Giants by 14.
Tier 1 Men’s Grand Final: Bathurst Bushrangers (1) vs Bathurst Giants (2)
Previous matches:
Round 2 – Bushrangers 20.14-134 def Giants 1.4-10, Round 4 – Giants 8.7-55 def by Bushrangers 17.17-119, Round 8 – Giants 12.10-82 def by Bushrangers 14.13-97, Round 11 – Bushrangers 13.17-95 def Giants 6.9-45, Round 14 – Giants 8.8-56 def by Bushrangers 12.3-75
Road to the Finals:
Bushrangers – N/a (progressed as automatic qualifier from winning Minor Premiership)
Giants – Giants 16.9-105 def Dubbo Demons 15.5-95
Players to watch:
Bushrangers – Bill Watterson, Andrew James, Nathan Smith, Alexander Davey
Giants – Sam Sloan, Cooper Brien, Nicholas Broes, Jack Goodsell
Season Stats:
Bushrangers – P15, W15, L0, For 1536, Against 679, 226.22%
Giants – P14, W6, L8, For 1039, Against 1132, 91.78% (Finals P1, W1)
Leading Goalkickers (inside Top-20):
Bushrangers – Nathan Smith (58), Hugh Templeton (32), Kolby McMahon (23), Timothy Hunter (17), James Smith (16), Joshua Connellan (13), Isaac Coldicott (11)
Giants – Sam Sloan (44), Nicholas Broes (15), Bailey Brien (15), Cooper Brien (13), Paul Jenkins (12)
Preview:
In 2022, the Bushrangers celebrated their second unbeaten Minor Premiership since 2020, and first in a full season since 2013. They come up against their 2020 Grand Final opponents, the Bathurst Giants. It’s a Bathurst Derby not to be missed, with the new look Bushrangers keen to end the 2021 Minor Premiers season and cap off a perfect record.
The Bushrangers were boosted by some massive inclusions this season. Nathan Smith, made the move and played one match in 2021 before the abandonment, but has shown his worth this season. His 58 goals were clearly the best haul from a player this year, and has helped support the dynamic forward line including Tim Hunter, James Smith, and Hugh Templeton.
It’s a massive task ahead of Shaun Noyen and James Kennedy, stopping Templeton and Smith in addition to whomever gets the job on Isaac Coldicott. The last time these three were on the park together, they combined for 10 of the Bushrangers’ 13, in a 50-point victory over today’s opposition.
For arguably the first time this season, the Bushrangers are at full strength, a daunting proposition for the Giants. They however, have no shortage of threats. Sam Sloan has found form after a slow start to the season. He was incredible last week, booting five in the opening quarter.
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He’ll be supported by Nicholas Broes, who appears to have made the shift from defence to attack in 2022, and has kicked some crucial goals. There’s plenty of offensive firepower from the midfield, and should Jack Goodsell win the contest against Peter Grundy, first use for a midfield consisting of Cooper Brien, Liam Cooke, and Luke Macauley will be dangerous.
Alexander Davey is likely to get the job on Sloan, a huge task to stop the Giants #1 tall. The match could well turn into a shootout between Smith and Sloan, should the teams get clean access from midfield.
PREDICTION:
The Giants were outstanding last week, but the Bushrangers have had their measure all season. We see them collecting their 16th win of the year today, completing a perfect season. Bushrangers by 27-points
