Bathurst Giants will miss key players for AFL Central West derby game with Bathurst Bushrangers

While the defeat gave those players excellent match experience it has had some unfortunate consequences ahead of this Saturday's AFL Central West senior men's derby clash with Bathurst Bushrangers.

Captain Bailey Brien (hamstring) and Zac Yandle (concussion) won't be on the field this weekend as the Giants try to pull ahead in the 2021 head-to-head with Bushrangers, which currently stands at 1-1.

Coach Mark Kennedy said the Central West game was a great showcase for the Giants unit but the club side will have to showcase their depth for this edition of the derby.

"It was a tough game against Shoalhaven but I thought that our guys in the rep side really stood up, and we among some of the best players on the ground," he said.

"The unfortunate part of that was that we picked up a couple of injuries. We've lost two of those guys for this weekend.

"It's unfortunate timing because we're coming up against Bushrangers this weekend and to have them out - and a couple of guys forced to quarantine after travelling through Sydney - it means we'll just put our best team possible on the ground and see how we go.

"It's another opportunity for Jordie Ashcroft to show what he can do. He's been playing fantastic in reserve grade. He's also brought that quality into first grade, and is one of those fringe players who gets the opportunity every now and then to cement a spot in the first grade side."

Simon Kay and Ryan Cooke will also be unavailable for the Giants due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Prior to the AFL Central West general bye Giants recorded a 50-point victory over the Orange Tigers while the Bushrangers suffered a shock loss away to Dubbo, giving the Demons their first success of the season.

It also gave Giants the outright lead on the ladder ahead of this Saturday's top-of-the-table game.

Kennedy doesn't want to read into that previous result for Bushrangers and knows it will be a different team turning up to George Park.

"Bushrangers are a very formidable side at home. It's handy to be on top of the table at the moment - and we thank Dubbo for assisting in that - but they're going to be a hard team to beat," he said.

"We just want to get out there and compete, get the football gods on our side and hope the ball bounces our way a couple of times. Then who knows what might happen?"

Kennedy said there's so little between the Bathurst clubs at this stage that it often comes down to who has their key players on hand at the right time.

"They key difference is who can get the best players on the paddock at the same time," he said.

"That's what it's going to take to win this year, and I know a lot of teams have struggled with that, and whoever is the most consistent in that area might be the team who comes away with the chocolates."

Giants will be chasing a revenge victory after Bushrangers bested them 83 to 66 in the previous derby game.

Giants have gone on to win their last three matches.

The senior men's derby starts at George Park 2 from 2.15pm.

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