A PROVEN performer against a rising star, the match up between Tim Hunter and Nic Broes should provide one of the highlights of this Saturday’s Central West AFL Bathurst derby at George Park 2.
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Bathurst Giants coach Mark Kennedy will give Broes the job of tagging Bathurst Bushrangers Outlaws’ full forward Tim Hunter – a man who has booted 34 majors so far this season.
It will be a big test for Broes, but one the Central West AFL under 17s skipper requested.
“It’s the old bull against the young bull,” Kennedy said.
“Nic asked me if he could play on Tim Hunter and when I asked why, he said that he's his school teacher. They’ve had a bit of friendly banter between each other during the week in the build up, so I thought yeah, let’s match up.
“Nic is a good little footballer and can make attacking moves from the back line, so he’s one to watch for the future.”
Given Giants will not take part in the finals this season and sit out the last round with the bye, Saturday’s match will be their last of 2017.
So just as Broes is keen to push a talented rival, the same can be said for the entire Giants squad as they face the second-placed Outlaws.
“This is our grand final really, last game of the year, we’re going to go in with all guns blazing,” Kennedy said.
“I’m quietly confident we’ll compete, I don’t think it will be a massive blow-out.
“They are the competition leaders and favourites for a reason. They’ve got a very good midfield with Nath Belbin, who we are going to have to try and nullify off halfback, and they’ve got some of the tallest ruckman. Sebastian Matheson is in the ruck, so he’s going to be hard to nullify, but we’ve got Zac [Bayliss] back now and James [Kennedy] who has done the job all year.”
As well as the return of Bayliss, Kennedy will also have four more Giants back in his line-up.
Paul Jenkins returns from suspension, Tim French from a broken collarbone, Dave Manning from a hamstring niggle and Jordan Longmore has recovered from a knee complaint.
They will certainly add strength to the Giants’ line up.
“If you look at our midfield, if I put Jenko, Dave Manning and Frenchy in the midfield with some very strong targets like Jordie Longmore and Sam Sloan and with Aiden Macauley roving off those two, who knows what might happen?,” Kennedy said.
“I suppose when you put two former Central West best and fairests on the ball in Jenko and Dave Manning, who knows what can happen? They are getting a bit older, but they are still quite smart football players.”
With Outlaws needing a win to maintain a top two spot and Giants to finish in fifth in matter what unfolds over the next fortnight, Kennedy said all the pressure is on his rivals.
He is more than happy with what his side has achieved in its second season in the one-tier senior competition with three wins and solid showings against those outfits which will take part in the finals.
“There’s no pressure on us, we’ve achieved what we wanted to achieve this year,” he said.
“We didn’t get beaten by 100 points this year, which was one thing that happened on a regular basis last year. We didn’t forfeit a game, we put a competitive side on the paddock, we’ve come close to the top sides.
“Moving forward to next year, I think a lot of this group are going to stay together and that’s awesome for us. They’ll be a year older, a year stronger, a year faster.
“They are really competitive, they want to learn and they want to play good, hard, contested football.”
The opening bounce in Saturday’s match between the Giants and Outlaws at George Park 2 will be at noon.