BATHURST Bushrangers Outlaws have the opportunity to move to the top of the Central West AFL ladder this Saturday when they play host to the Orange Tigers.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Not only is the meeting a rematch of last year’s grand final – which Outlaws won by 38 points – but it’s also a top-of-the-table clash.
Tigers meet Outlaws sitting above the Bathurst club on the ladder, as was the case in last year’s grand final.
However, both squads have undergone their share of chopping and changing in the player ranks.
With both teams still carrying plenty of attacking flair, goal scoring threats and strong midfield combinations it promises to be just as exciting as the grand final.
One Outlaws player returning from the 2017 grand final is captain Tim Hunter.
Hunter, who kicked four majors in his side’s September triumph, is eager to see what Orange will bring to the table.
“From last year’s side I’d say we wouldn’t even have 10 players from that grand final. There’s a fair bit of a shake up on our end, and I think that’s a really positive thing because we need to continue splitting our sides to support the competition,” he said.
“With the quality of the players who have returned for Orange it’s going to be a quality game, that’s for sure.
“We love playing Orange. It’s developed into a really good rivalry, and something that’s great for the league. We’ve both had some quality teams over the last few years.”
Orange remain the only unbeaten team in this season’s competition but will run into an Outlaws team coming off a 50-point win over the Dubbo Demons.
Tigers extended their winning start to three games with their success over Parkes Panthers.
Tim Barry has found 17 goals in that time for the Tigers and both Mick and Chris Rothnie remain danger players for the Orange club.
Tigers haven’t run into either Bushrangers team yet, since their match against the Rebels earlier this season was postponed.
It robbed the Outlaws of an opportunity to see what the Tigers would be like but Hunter knows one thing: This Saturday’s game is going to be one worth watching.
It’s developed into a really good rivalry.
- Tim Hunter
“We didn’t play at our best last week. We had a lapse there in the second quarter and we know against Orange we can’t afford that at all. They’re too good of a side for us to not show up for a quarter,” he said.
“With a few big inclusions it’s obviously helped them and by all reports they’re playing some very good footy. They’ve had a great start.
“It’s early on in the season and it’s good for us to come up against a quality side like them at this stage.
“We’ve got a whole different team from last year and it does takes some time for us to gel when we’re playing with guys who we haven’t played with for a year or two.
“We’re really happy with things and we’ve had great numbers at training. If you asked us at the start of the year we’d probably take where we’re at for now.”
Outlaws and Tigers are the first leg in a George Park 2 double header this Saturday.
Their opening bounce will be 10.30am with the Rebels and Panthers to follow from 2.30pm.