After suffering back-to-back defeats, the AFL Central West men's tier one defending premiers returned to the winners' list on Saturday with a convincing 18-9-117 to 5-9-39 win over the Orange Tigers.

They opened up a 20-point buffer in the opening quarter, held the hosts scoreless in the third term and finished with their highest score of the season thus far.

Scott Jablonskis kicked four majors, but in total nine Bushrangers finished with at least one goal to their name against the Tigers.

It was a performance which came as a relief for co-coach Matt Archer, but one he felt was coming.

"We were just sort of going through the motions, we were playing badly but we were winning, but we didn't kick into drive. After that bad loss against Dubbo, the next training we had on Tuesday, you could tell there was an attitude shift ... it's like we've woken up," he said.

"We asked for response a few weeks ago and certainly last week [loss against Bathurst Giants] I felt the response and effort was there, but finally this week we were able to string the effort and the execution together.

"The guys are really striving now, there's a bit more mongrel and aggression in the midfield now, and we are winning the football back now."

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That aggression and mongrel in the middle was inspired by captain Bill Watterson and vice-captain Andrew James.

"They both had terrific games, they were outstanding and back to their blistering, attacking best," Archer said.

"When they hunt the football, they can get the ball and break and run and carry, they are incredibly hard to stop. They are probably the first to admit they haven't been good enough in the first half the season, but they've really pushed and driven this momentum shift."

However, the two leaders were not alone in helping to win clearances and drive the ball inside the Bushrangers' attacking 50.

"Peter Grundy rucked and he was fantastic, again the last two weeks I think he's had a mental shift and really dug in as well," Archer said.

"Young Michael Long has come back the last two weeks too which has helped. He's just a different type of player and always seems to get his hands on the football first and you don't know how.

"If all those blokes play well it definitely helps, it gives you every chance because you are winning the ball forward and earning territory."

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