This Central West AFL women's season has been one of the most interesting in memory.
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Reigning premiers Dubbo Demons pulled out before the season started and the Bathurst Bushrangers are desperate to regain the crown they had a monopoly on before 2018, when Dubbo defeated the Bathurst Giants in the first non-Bushrangers grand final.
Byes have littered the fixture, especially with the Demons out of the competition, and while a gala day was added to give clubs a few extra games the season has been stop-start due to general byes.
Bathurst Giants
Run home: Tigers (H), Tigers (H) - makeup game, Panthers (H) Blues (A)
The 2018 runners-up are heads and shoulders in front of the rest of the competition and the benchmark for other clubs. Having scored eight and a half times more than their opposition, there's not much Liz Kennedy's side can't do.
They have next to no weaknesses over the ground and - oh also, no-one's beaten them yet, with a draw the only game they haven't won.
With an extra game in hand and two certain wins against Panthers and Cowra, they would struggle to drop out of first place if they tried.
Orange Tigers
Run home: Giants (A), Giants (A) - makeup game, bye, Bushrangers (A)
The Tigers have improved out of sight in season 2019, adding some grunt to the engine room and solidifying their backline, but heading forward is still a problem for the side.
While Emma Clark is a good focal point, she doesn't have the goal-kicking support around her, with plenty coming from their midfield.
With an extremely tough three games to come, they need to win two games to ensure they finish in second for a double chance.
Bathurst Bushrangers
Run home: Bye, Blues (A), Tigers (H)
A mostly new-look Bushrangers side has taken to the field in 2019, and it looks like they're hitting form at the right time of year.
They defeated the Tigers last weekend, and would be hoping to do the same in the final round to leapfrog the Orange side and set up an all-Bathurst semi-final.
Beth Durham has been revelation at centre-half-forward and their attacking firepower is the best in the competition, having scored 11 more points than the Giants - but conceded 132 more.
THE LADDER:
How things stand with three rounds to go ...
- Bathurst Giants: 8 games, 7 wins, 42pts, 815%
- Orange Tigers: 9 games, 7 wins, 36pts, 349%
- Bathurst Bushrangers: 10 games, 6 wins, 34pts, 260%
- Cowra Blues, 9 games, 1 win, 16pts 8%
- Parkes Panthers, 9 games, 1 win, 16pts 22%
Cowra Blues
Run home: Panthers (A), Bushrangers (H), Giants (H)
This weekend's game is a final for the Blues. They need to clinch a win over Parkes to make finals, with their abysmal percentage of just 8.46 meaning Parkes - currently a game behind - need four points to leapfrog them.
However, the Panthers have the bye to come, which gives points automatically - so if they don't win this weekend and aren't able to muster another victory, they're done.
Parkes Panthers
Run home: Blues (H), Giants (A), bye
See above. This weekend is crucial, but if they don't win they'll be having sleepless nights hoping the Blues aren't able to cause a miraculous upset in Bathurst.
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