The Dale Hunter-coached Tigers were upset by the desperate Bathurst Bushrangers Outlaws at George Park on Saturday afternoon, and now head into the post-season having lost two of their final three games.

It’s not ideal and even though the Outlaws were sensational on Saturday, the Tigers were without the rested Tim Barry and a number of other unavailable guns as well.

“We won’t draw too much from it but I’d have preferred to have more consistency going into the finals because the only good form is winning form, and we don’t have it now,” Tigers coach Dale Hunter said.

“We didn’t really have anyone put in good four-quarter effort, outside a couple of defenders. There was a few guys who were good in patched but I think we went into preservation mode a little bit, just trying to get through before the finals.

“So we’ll have to forget about that one I think and just look to turn it around as quickly as we can because while we have that double chance, we don’t plan on using it.

“Fortunately we should have a full roster available this weekend too.”

While the loss meant nothing for the Tigers’ standing in the league, it was a season-saving one for the Outlaws.

After the toughest run in the history of the side saw the Outlaws had slipped outside the top four, but rallied under pressure to beat the minor premiers 13.10.88 – 9.7.61.

Although Dubbo also knocked off the Bathurst Giants, the Bushrangers side nudged the Demons out on percentages.

“It was unreal. We knew the importance of it and that was the pleasing thing, everyone really stepped up and really committed to playing good footy – no-one backed out,” Outlaws co-coach Ben Horn said.

“We’ve had a few hard patches this season, but we’re starting to play our best footy of the year. It’s very pleasing and we’re confident going into next week – we’re going to come out hard and we’re going to play tough footy.”

The Outlaws had lost their two prior games against Tigers this season, but with their finals hopes on the line, they began the latest battle in strong fashion.

The hosts booted four goals one – three of those majors coming from the boot of teenage talent Charlie Flude – to lead by five points at the first change.

The Outlaws backed that up with a solid second term to extend their advantage to 18 points by the long break, but it was the third quarter which proved the most telling.

While restricting the Tigers to one goal and a behind, Outlaws pumped through four more majors for an 11.4.70 to 6.3.39 lead. From there they closed it out.

“We knew we had to come out strong against them, they’re a quality side, you don’t become minor premiers without being a quality side,” Horn said.

“So we came out strong and we managed to stick it to them the whole game. It was a very good result.

“They were there all day, early in the last they started coming back.

“But I was always confident in the boys, I knew everyone would do their thing and keep fighting. They kicked a couple of goals, but then we kicked a couple back.”

The Tigers will now host the Bathurst Bushrangers Rebels in this weekend’s major semi-final, and should be back to full strength too.