'We're still a top four team': Orange Tigers confident of bouncing back despite third straight loss

AT the start of the 2016 Central West AFL season, even the boldest punter wouldn’t have bet against the Orange Tigers - not against the three-time defending champions. A fourth flag was at their beck and call.

But the black and golds are now no wins from their first three starts, their latest loss a 15.19 (109) to 7.10 (52) thrashing at the hands of the Blues in Cowra.

Do the Tigers need to reassess their goals as the race for early season form stretches beyond the Anzac Day weekend break?

“I don’t think we need to reassess our goals ... we’re a top four team, there’s no doubt about it. We just need to tinker with our game plan and make it work for the personnel we have at the moment,”  he said.

“We need some commitment, some on-field leadership and we need to use the footy when we have it rather than turning it over cheaply.”

Pearce believes poor ball control killed off any chance the Tigers had of beating Cowra at Mulyan Oval on Saturday.

The Tigers were without co-captains Tim Barry and Michael Rothnie, and vice-captain Zac Forostenko.

Pearce himself went down injured in the warm up and another Tiger was called into work at the last minute, forcing the defending champs to play with 20.

But the most disappointing aspect for the Tigers was allowing Blues ace Nathan Worth enough opportunities to boot nine majors. That came down to a lack of leadership.

“It’s not acceptable,” Pearce  said.

“We didn’t cover that match-up well enough. Our decision making was poor and we just made a lot of simple skill errors.

“Any team in the competition, when you make those mistakes, will make you pay

“ It doesn’t matter whether it’s the Cowra Blues, Bathurst Bushrangers or Bathurst Giants. We had enough ball to win the game we just didn’t do enough with it.”

The Tigers were best served by stand-in skipper Mitch McKenna, while the returning Tristan Degn was also strong for Orange.

Jamie Cox kicked two goals, while Luke Thorley, Chris Pethybridge, Ben Cullis, Leslie Palmyre and Andy McIntyre each booted one major.

Bathurst Bushrangers Outlaws, Bathurst Bushrangers Rebels, Cowra and Parkes are all undefeated after three rounds, with the Tigers, Young, Dubbo and Bathurst Giants all winless.