FOR the third time in as many years the AFL Central West youth girls grand final will be a battle between the Bathurst Giants and Orange Tigers and once again those in the charcoal and orange are determined to be the victors.
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Since the inaugural competition in 2018 the Giants have lost just three matches - one against the Bushrangers and the other two at the hands of the Tigers.
One of those defeats against the Tigers came in the grand final two years ago, while in 2019 the Giants went through the season undefeated, beating Orange 9-8-62 to 2-4-16 on grand final day.
This year the Giants, under the guidance of coach Katie Kennedy, assistant coach Jayarna Kay and manager Elise Gullifer, lost just one game on the the way to the minor premiership.
It came at the hands of the Tigers.
But Kennedy pointed out her side led that match until an injury rattled the playing group and they won their two other meetings with the Tigers in convincing fashion, 6-6-42 to 2-5-17 and 5-2-32 to 1-3-9
"We went straight through to the grand final which is very exciting. We hadn't lost a game until the last round when we were a bit under staffed and had a pretty scary injury in the last quarter which shook the girls a little bit and the win kind of slipped away from us," she said.
"It will be interesting I think because they [Tigers] were the ones who beat us in the last round. I think our girls will be pretty keen to go back and get one up on them."
This year's Giants side features a number of players from the 2019 premiership outfit as well as some new faces. The new faces also include Kennedy as coach.
"I have enjoyed it, it's a lot different to playing. You're watching the game and you're busting to get out there and show them how to do it, but you've got to stay on the sideline and yell out and direct. It's a whole different ball game being a coach," Kennedy, who skippers the Giants' women's side, said.
"Their team work is amazing, they clicked so well at the start of the season and they've just gotten better and better. Even in such a small amount of time, just watching them out there helping each other is just incredible, to still be in juniors and work that well as a team is just amazing."
Their team work is amazing, they clicked so well at the start of the season and they've just gotten better and better.
- Katie Kennedy
Two of the on-field leaders for youth girls this season have been captain Zoe Peters and Bridget Warne.
They have been regulars in the women's outfit and the experience they have gained testing themselves against older rivals has benefited not only them, but their youth team-mates as well.
"Those girls are just amazing and can definitely hold their own against some of the older ladies. Both of their leadership is second to none, they are bloody amazing and they really enjoy helping out the younger girls," Kennedy said.
"I know Bridget has been helping out in the under 14s and trying to get those girls up and playing in our youth girls team and Zoe, just her guidance on the field is amazing, she is a bloody superstar."
But just as the Giants have star players, so too do the Orange Tigers.
How the Giants stack up against one of them - defender Elizabeth Gibson - will be a key factor in Sunday's grand final.
"They'll be tough to beat, they've got a couple of really good girls that just know the game really well," Kennedy said. "Elizabeth Gibson in their back line is great, it is so hard to get the ball past her because she is just so good.
"It should be a really good contest, I'm excited, and hopefully the girls can come away with a win."
Opening bounce in the grand final is 12.30pm Sunday at George Park 1.
