The equation’s simple – whoever wins is almost certain to finish second and book a major semi-final ticket.
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Saturday’s Central West AFL Bathurst derby between the Giants and Bushrangers Rebels deserves billing as the biggest contest of the regular season, considering those ramifications.
The Giants have a four-point break over the Rebels going into the penultimate round and are defending second place from their Bathurst rivals.
Victory for the Giants will lock up their position with a round in hand and the camp is buzzing after knocking over minor premiers Orange Tigers last weekend.
“It’d be a good one to take to have that second bite at the cherry come finals,” he said.
“People are crazy if they write the Rebels off. They’re a very skillful side who have players who can turn a game. Over the years they haven’t missed a grand final and I’m sure that’s something that will spur them on.
“We’ve had a few juniors who have stepped up to play some games from the 17s, and they’ve really relished the opportunity. They’ve always put their hands up and we’ve managed to put a competitive team on the paddock.”
Rebels can go ahead with a victory due to their superior percentage, and have a match against last-placed Parkes Panthers to wrap up the regular season.
The Giants set out with an aim to make finals and they’ve done more than that – they’ve put a major semi-final within their reach.
Every positive moment the Giants have in the lead up to finals, and during them, is a “bonus” in the eyes of Kennedy.
“All we wanted to concentrate on was making finals and we’ve done that,” he said.
“We’ve ticked a box and now it’s up to the playing group to see how far they want to go.”
That result has made the game a do-or-die affair for the Bushrangers if they want to avoid a minor semi-final.
The Bushrangers side and the Giants have shared the victories this season and Rebels co-coach Steve Grundy believes that makes for a thrilling encounter.
“There’s a few games this weekend, and in particular ours, that could settle where everyone ends up on the ladder. There’s a lot at stake for both teams,” he said.
“It should be a cracker because there hasn’t been much separating the teams in the two games so far.”
Grundy labelled the loss to Demons as one of the Rebels’ worst performances of the season.
He’s confident the derby atmosphere will help lift his side.
“We weren’t quite at full strength and by our own admission probably had the worst game we’ve had all year,” he said.
“To put a positive spin on things, when you’re coming away from a game like that and you only lose by one point then there’s still things you can take away from it.
“Over the last three years this has become a clash on the ladder that you really look forward to. There’s a lot of feeling and emotion in the game and there’s a lot of blokes who know each other out there.”
The match at George Park 2 starts 2.30pm.
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