It may have been a torrid season for Orange City in the Blowes Clothing Cup first grade, but the Lions' juniors are roaring at junior level.
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While the club's under-13s have booked a grand final spot, the under-17s will face off against Mudgee in Dubbo on Saturday for a spot in the big dance.
Orange City junior president Tim West said it was a great sign to have sides alive in two of the three junior grades in finals, and said the under-17s had been "right up there" all season.
"The top four was pretty even, to be honest there was no clear-cut number one for the season, anyone in the top four could have won it," he said.
The Lions eliminated one of that four - Forbes - last week, while Mudgee lost the major semi-final against Dubbo, with this weekend's match-up a curious clash for the Wombats and City.
"Oddly enough, they beat us in Orange and when we travelled to Mudgee we beat them," West said.
"It's pretty even, most disciplined team on the day will win.
"All the sides played well all through the competition and there wasn't too many games where the score got out of hand."
I can't remember the last time we hosted finals, so to have home sides in your grand final is great. It doesn't come up that often.
- Orange City junior president Tim West
The side has the extra motivation to get over the line - literally and metaphorically - on Saturday with the home final in reach.
"I can't remember the last time we hosted finals, so to have home sides in your grand final is great. It doesn't come up that often," West said.
Fitness is the key underpinning the Lions' under-17s, who have starred under the tutelage of John Nunn and Nigel Ryan, who West labelled "fantastic".
They've also had the help of one of the club's senior figures in first grade coach Viv Paasi.
"He often comes along and helps, he's fantastic. Very mindful of getting the juniors involves and getting seniors down," West said.
"He'll take them in a few drills and he's so good at explaining things simply so they get it straight away ... the kids love it."
He said despite their season being done, seniors had been popping down to training and finals games which West said gave youngsters a "20 per cent boost", and the culture Paasi had imparted of bringing seniors and juniors together was doing wonders.
"Between the Central West and the club we've got to make sure we can keep these guys in the system, we've got some good young talent coming through," West said.
"Viv Paasi is helping that ... when the seniors help the juniors and the juniors help the seniors, it makes it a place you want to be."
The under-17s kick off from 3.15pm at Dubbo's Apex Oval.
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