With one quarter to go on Saturday it seemed the Dubbo Demons might finally be heading back to the AFL Central West's biggest day.
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But the one thing the Demons have lacked this season is a consistent showing across four quarters and that trend continued on Saturday as the Dubbo side suffered a heartbreaking semi-final loss to the Bathurst Giants.
The Demons led by 21 points heading into the final term but the last quarter belonged to a rampant Giants side which booted six goals to run out 10.12.72 to 8.9.57 victors and ensured an all-Bathurst grand final clash against Bushrangers.
"The whole group was gutted," captain Bevan Charlton-White said.
"Once they (Giants) got on a run we couldn't wrestle back the momentum.
"It was difficult at that point and unfortunately we've talked all season about being inconsistent across games or quarters.
"We hadn't really put four quarters of really solid footy together. There's always lapses and on Saturday it was pretty costly."
After trailing by four at the first quarter the Demons soon kicked into gear.
A four-goal second term had them up by 13 at the main break and that lead grew in the third quarter.
Charlton-White booted five of the eight goals kicked as swift ball movement and quality delivery allowed him to thrive.
But the Giants came out fired-up in the final quarter and dominated play to advance to a grand final for the first time.
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