Whitton, Nic Freedman, Nathan Totton, Damien Caughlan and Nathan Fitzpatrick are among the group of former Tigers set to don the club's traditional, original orange and black - rather than black and gold - at the gala day, which will welcome over-35 sides from across the region.

Although he joked about having some difficulty running around with walking-frames, Whitton said the gala day provides the chance for players to rekindle their love of the game without the full-blown, competitive nature of the competition proper.

"We do have oxygen tanks and defibrillators at the ready, I hear all the hospitals around the region have increased their staffing levels for the weekend too," Whitton laughed.

"Seriously though it's a great idea, it's gets these players back around a local club so they can be more engaged and involved in the game day experience as well.

"A lot of the guys came to our game later in life so it's a great opportunity for them to get back involved and get back on the paddock.

"Some of them didn't get the chance to play a lot of footy, since the introduction of AFL Central West's single-tier structure a lot of them felt like they weren't able to compete for spots in the Tigers' team."

The gala day will be play as a 12-a-side tournament with modified rules on a slightly smaller field, with games still to be played over four quarters, the length of which will be determined by the numbers of sides that end up showing at George Park.

One of those rules changes, Whitton explained, has been met with a joking ire by the Tigers Old Boys outfit - not being able to make contact with the man in front.

"Spiro (Freedman) is not happy he won't be able to take any hangers, Fitzy (Fitzpatrick) doesn't know how to ruck without lifting his knees and Totto (Totten) was one the best backman from behind you'd see. We were grumpy old men when we played, but we're grumpier old men now," Whitton laughed.

For most the 37-year-old explained the the gala day is probably less about winning and more about enjoying the game they love, Whitton did say he's "desperate" to get his hands on a medal, he never did during his playing days with the Orange club.

Whitton's career spanned from 2003 to 2009 before he moved into AFL Central West administration, although he did return to the field in 2014 and 2015, both years the Tigers won top grade flags.

"I was in reserve grade in those two years though, they won a flag in 2002 as well, the year before I arrived. If we don't win this weekend, that's it, I'll never picked up a footy again," Whitton laughed, before fondly recalling his 'glory years'.

"My only claim to fame in this sport is being a part of the Tigers side that got beaten 333-3 by Cowra, Matt Smith kicked something like 20 goals that day and I reckon he kicked most of them when I was marking him.

"It was very different then, you know, back in my day as a whippersnapper we'd chat to the rugby league guys in a pub on a Friday, drag them along to the game on a Saturday morning and then they'd run around again on Sunday for Hawks or CYMS.

"Those were the days."

Along with the Tigers Old Boys Orange will enter a second side in the gala day, while sides from the Bathurst Bushrangers, Bathurst Giants and Cowra are expected to front as well.

The AFL Central West Masters Gala Day is expected to start a little after midday on Saturday.