THEY'VE had their measure every time they've met this year but the Bathurst Bushrangers know the next meeting against cross-city rivals Giants will have a completely different feel to it.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
That's because this Saturday will be the first time the two clubs have come together for an AFL Central West senior men's grand final.
Bushrangers will be out to defend their title at George Park 2 this weekend and in the process complete an undefeated season through the men's top tier.
Just like the previous three meetings with the Giants in 2020 the Bushrangers will go in as favourites, but they're on alert for a Giants side buoyed by their flawless fourth quarter fight back in the preliminary final.
Bushrangers co-coach Tim Hunter and all clubmates are excited for the occasion.
"It's great for Bathurst AFL and it was a final that was going to eventually happen at some point," he said.
"The Giants came close to getting there the last few years and it's great for footy in the town and it should be an exciting game.
"We have enormous amounts of respect for the Giants. They've put together an amazing back half of the year. That last quarter against Dubbo they were pretty phenomenal.
"We need a four quarter effort to get ourselves over the line."
The main weapon in the Bushrangers' arsenal to combat an enthused Giants? Experience.
They know all about what the grand final is like, having never missed one of them in senior men's since the club's inception.
- READ MORE: AFL Central West: Stunning second half takes Bathurst Bushrangers under 14s to premiership glory
- READ ALSO: AFL Central West: Bathurst Bushrangers under 12s fall just short of comeback win in grand final
- READ ALSO: Bathurst Bushrangers awarded $10,000 grant for seating upgrade at George Park 2
They'll need to draw upon that experience given their lack of match time over the past two weeks.
With a win via default over the Orange Tigers in the last round, and a wait on the sidelines to see who would win the Giants-Dubbo Demons game, the Bushrangers are craving some football.
Hunter said the side have been putting in the work they can to get themselves psyched up for the big day.
"The Orange game didn't go ahead but we're happy with how we prepared. The beauty of having three senior men's teams is that we've been able to run things close to game scenarios at training," he said.
"While it would have been nice to play the last round it's nothing unfamiliar to us. Last year was similar with byes and weeks off before the final. They're itching to get out there and they're primed for it."
Bushrangers won their latest two games this season against the Giants by 60-plus points, though the latest of those matches was more than a month ago.
Hunter said those matches were good example of the Bushrangers playing a consistent four terms of footy - and one more game full of those will be needed on Saturday.
"Those were the games that we managed to string four quarters together. I feel like most of those games have been quite close, there's just been some late goals that have blown the score out a bit. Anything less than four good quarters put them right in it," he said.