There’s no tougher trip in Central West AFL than journeying to Waratahs Sportsground to face the Orange Tigers, but Bathurst Giants are hungry to defy the odds this Saturday.
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The Giants are in a fight for second heading toward the finals and need one of their strongest performances this year to bring down the Tigers, who have well and truly stamped their authority on 2018.
“Orange have been the benchmark this season so it will be good to head over there to the bigger ground and hopefully see our younger guys use their pace,” Giants gun James Kennedy said.
“They’re a tough, physical side and very good at the contested ball so it’s sort of two sides to the coin with these teams. They’re a contesting side and we’re a free-running side so hopefully we can match them with the body and, as I said, get our young players using their run.”
Reading into the Giants’ massive defeat to the Tigers in June isn’t a wise exercise.
Their goalless loss came without Sam Sloan, Nathan Belbin, Frank Bright, Julian Larsen, Dave Manning, Alex Cuttiford plus brothers Nic and Josh Broes.
Kennedy said the feeling around the camp is upbeat after last round’s hard-fought win over Parkes Panthers.
“Training’s been great. Everyone’s been up and about coming into a big game like this,” he said.
“We had one little hiccup over in Dubbo, and it’s always a tough trip over there, but we had a good win over Parkes so everyone’s glad we’re back on track now.
“It’s about keeping our intensity going and not getting too complacent. From there it’s working on the little things like handballs and kicks hitting targets and if you get those little things right then the big things take care of themselves.”
The Giants and Tigers face-off from 2.30pm.