AFL Central West: Bathurst Giants win derby over Bathurst Bushrangers for eighth straight victory

In Saturday's derby success against Bathurst Bushrangers the latest impressive moment for Kennedy was witnessing her new players already making a big impact.

Even with no substitutes in their latest clash at George Park 2, and without assistant coach Mick Sloan on deck, it didn't stop the Giants coming away with a 10-9-69 to 4-2-26 victory in challenging conditions.

Bushrangers almost kept pace after the opening quarter, where the girls in orange had a 26-13 lead, but from that point on the gap started to blow out as the Giants found some rhythm.

Elise Gullifer kicked five goals for the Giants while Hailee Provest booted four.

Kennedy said several players put their hands up with big performances.

"It was the first time that we'd gone into a game with no reserves. My girls were just absolutely outstanding," she said.

"Elise was one of the standouts, with five goals. Her and Hailee are working so well together up front. Laycee Covington's voice was so positive on the weekend and our new girl, Carla Hill, was outstanding too.

"Getting Carla over the last two weeks has added a whole new dimension to the team. It's like she's always played with us."

But it's also with some of the younger members of the team where Kennedy believes positive impacts are being felt the most.

"I must give a shoutout to Rosie Snare, Molly McCrossin and Saige Davies. Saige played in our youth girls team and brought across Molly and Rosie, and they've all just slotted into our team so well," she said.

"They just get in there, do what they need to do, and you can see that they have a real desire to learn the game. They're really starting to pick it up.

"I was concerned with how we were going to fill the spots left by the players we lost at the end of last year but these girls have just blown me away by how well they've adapted to the game."

Saturday's win takes Giants to eight wins from eight games to start the season.

That's not a number Kennedy envisioned as feasible in pre-season.

"With the people we'd lost last year I thought we might struggle but it's been an amazing season so far," she said.

"There's still plenty of things that we can work on and we're not going to get complacent. Our teamwork was outstanding on Saturday though, and it's great seeing them all getting around each other."

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