AFTER kicking the goal which helped seal the AFL Central West women's premiership for Bathurst Giants last year the elation was clear to see on Hailee Provest's face, so it might be surprising to hear there is a game she rates higher than a grand final.
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The game which most excites Provest is when the Giants host their Indigenous round. The 2021 edition falls this Saturday with the Bathurst club to face Dubbo.
"I think the Indigenous round is my favourite round, it tops the grand final I reckon, I love it," the proud Indigenous player said.
"We want to win the games and Dubbo will obviously come over and give it to us in all grades, but the scores aren't the only thing that will matter on the day, it's about celebrating the Indigenous round.
"Dubbo celebrated their Indigenous round last weekend, so they'll be hyped up for this weekend. They've got a lot Indigenous players we get along well with. It will be a really special weekend, it will be great to get around the culture."
For the Giants women, their match will be a top of the table clash.
The undefeated Giants are the only side to have bettered Dubbo this season, posting a 9-5-58 to 2-7-19 victory when the pair met at George Park 1 in May.
Dubbo is the side the Giants women beat on grand final day last year, while the Demons won the 2018 decider against the girls in charcoal and orange.
In the men's tier two game the Giants will be chasing their second win of the season, while in tier one the Bathurst club are hoping they'll be the first male top grade outfit to win on home soil in four weeks.
The last time the men's tier one rivals met was in the season opener at George Park 1, Sam Sloan booting six majors that afternoon as the Giants crushed the Demons 23-21-159 to 8-8-56.
Provest, who is under an injury cloud, is hoping the Giants fire in their special Indigenous round jumpers designed by Biripi Worimi Wiradjuri man and artist Josh Sly.
They are jumpers which will serve another purpose after the full-time siren.
"They'll be auctioned on Saturday night at Bathurst Panthers League Club with the profits going to an Indigenous scholarship within the club next year. We'll try and sponsor a few Indigenous players whether it's boots or rego or whatever," Provest explained.
The auction and the games are just part of a big day which also includes an Acknowledgement of Country, presentation of special best on ground awards and the unveiling of a plaque.
"We've got an Acknowledgement of Country plaque that will be unveiled, that was part of our strategic plan to get that done. It's a good time to have that this weekend," Provest said.
"The best on ground medals have been made up at Girrawaa [Creative Arts Centre], there will be little Aboriginal artefacts framed with the medal, so it's something significant to the round.
"The special thing this year is that we are celebrating it when the Sir Douglas Nicholls round is on as well, so it's in the media. The NRL just did their Indigenous round, the [Premier League] hockey did their Indigenous round, so the hype is there."
The program for the day commences at 10.55am with opening bounce in the men's tier two game at 11am, the women's at 12.30pm and men's division one fixture 2.30pm.
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