With three games left in the Central West AFL regular season, now is the time the third-placed Orange Tigerettes have to start building toward the finals.
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That’s the word of the side’s coach, Grant Mansell.
And, more specifically, trying to figure out how to beat the rampant, undefeated Bathurst Bushrangers.
That’s something the side has been working on recently though.
Mansell’s troops, who realistically won’t move from third, have been winning too.
The Tigerettes extended their recent winning streak to three games on Saturday, with a 75-point victory over Parkes.
“The big thing for every side in the competition is beating Bathurst,” he said.
“They just have this feel around them, maybe an intimidation thing because they have been dominant for so long.
“Our players tend to go into their shell a bit when we play them, but there is confidence there because we are the only ones to have beaten them since the women’s competition started.
“We put a few things in place in our win over Parkes on the weekend and we’re trying to treat every game like we’re playing Bathurst, to get ready.”
The Tigerettes face the Bushrangers in the final round of the regular season and while Mansell is looking toward that game, he said the side will stay focused on winning its next two as well.
“We play Parkes again after this weekend’s bye, on the road, so that will be tough,” he said.
“Parkes aren’t a bad side, they’re growing in numbers and in confidence too. Then we’ve got a tough one against Dubbo and then Bathurst.”
Mansell was positively beaming after Saturday’s 12.9.81 – 1.0.6 win, which came despite his side missing almost a dozen regulars.
“We had, I think, nine or 10 out and a lot of them were our most experienced girls,” Mansell said.
“By the second quarter none of our leadership group was on the field so it is really, really pleasing to get that kind of a win.
“It was really good to see all the younger, more inexperienced players stand up and it’s encouraging to see them all take to Australian rules so well.
“Alex Bird was one of them on the weekend, she won our coaches’ award and missed out on best on ground and players’ player by a point, she was very good.”
The Tigerettes led by 19 at the first break and 26 at the second.
They outscored the Panthers 49-0 in the second half, kicking five goals in the last quarter too.
Nita Noble was superb for the Tigerettes, kicking six of the side’s goals and picking up that players’ player award Mansell mentioned.