The Bathurst Giants under 12s side has completed the perfect season thanks to a 35-point win over the Orange Tigers in their Central West AFL grand final at George Park 1 on Sunday.

A five goals to two second half secured the victory, the Giants saluting 12-8-80 to 7-3-45 against a gutsy but outclassed Orange side in the biggest game of the year.

After an early onslaught saw the hosts jump out to a handy lead, the game became an arm wrestle of sorts up until a few minutes out from half-time, at which point the Giants began to flex their muscle.

They took a 14-point buffer into the main break and quickly built on that in the third term.

Two more majors to Orange’s single, and another three in the final quarter broke the resistance of the Tigers once and for all, and completed a dream campaign for the young Giants outfit.

Joey Langfield, Calvin Windus and Liam Cook each booted two goals, while six other players hit the scoreboard in a great team goal kicking performance.

“We kicked the first couple of the game but they [Orange] came out really aggressively and for the first quarter and a half or so, they were really sticking it to us,” victorious coach Andrew Collins said. 

“We worked really hard to get on top and the job Cooper Brien did on Charlie Kemp – who was probably Orange’s most dangerous player – was outstanding.

“He kept him very quiet, which went a long way to winning the game. Our little on-ballers in the middle were excellent as well. Joey Langfield in particular had a good game and kicked a couple of goals when the result was up for grabs.”

Brien was named best on ground for his performance, while Kemp was named best and fairest for the competition.

Bathurst had gone into the match with a strong record against Orange – naturally given their undefeated run through the regular season, but the Tigers got within seven points in one contest, so it was no sure thing that the result would fall the right way on Sunday.

Thankfully for Collins and his players, the side stepped up again when it mattered most and helped give the fledgling club another honour in only their second year of existence.

“It is always great to get some more trophies in the cabinet as a young club and show that we’re doing things right,” Collins said. 

“We really have to give a special mention to our backline today for the way they played. Zac Yandle was outstanding, Blake Collins, Lachlan McInerney ... They were all fantastic and really made it difficult for the Orange forwards.”

BATHURST GIANTS 12-8-80 (Calvin Windus 2, Joey Langfield 2, Liam Cook 2, Connor Brien, Lachlan McInerney, Nash Hutchings, Lachlan Micalos, Charlie Hutchings, Jenson Brown) defeated ORANGE TIGERS 7-3-45 (Blake Weymouth 2, Matthew Brown 2, George Kemp, Thomas Bock)