A week is a long time in football. After the high of the win over Dubbo a week ago the 14’s came back to earth with a thud. The good news was the 17’s squared the ledger with a close win over the Giants and under 14 Zain Clark was judged best on ground despite being in the losing side – a testament to how well he played on the weekend.

Last weekend, Forbes was host to four games of junior AFL beginning with the debut of the Forbes/Parkes under 10’s v Dubbo. For many of the kids this was their first foray into competition footy but that was not a worry as the under 10’s put all their skills learned at Auskick into action and came away with the win over a tenacious Dubbo outfit.

The Orange/Forbes under 14’s continued their winning run with a gritty 3.4 (22) to 1.6 (12) win against Dubbo. This was the Swamp Tigers first win over Dubbo in 2023. 

Dubbo took the early lead when James Wonderly kicked the first goal after some good lead up work from the midfield. Orange/Forbes countered Dubbo but were only able to kick two behinds to trail by four at the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter the Swamp Tigers were able to assert some control, Cayden Metzeling kicked the first goal to take the lead. Dubbo pressured the Swamp Tigers goal, but resolute defence saw Dubbo only able to kick one behind. Logan McMahon kicked his first ever goal just before the halftime, Swamp Tigers took a 7-point lead at half time.

The third quarter was tight and both teams scored twice. Metzeling kicked his second goal of the day to increase the lead to 12 points at three quarter time. The fourth term was as equally as tight as the third, but it was Dubbo who created more opportunities; however accuracy proved the problem for both teams and both only managed to score behinds. Orange/Forbes held on for the win.

Three goals in the opening term helped a tenacious Orange/Forbes under 17’s overcome Dubbo in round six of the Triple M AFL Central West competition.

It was Orange/Forbes who started full of fire and kicked three goals four before Dubbo knew what had happened to take a 22 point lead into quarter time.

Dubbo hit back in the second term kicking three straight goals taking the Swamp Tigers by surprise with their physical play and ball movement, Orange/Forbes countered with some scores of their own to lead by only seventeen points at half time. 

The third term was an even affair with Orange/Forbes only able to increase the lead by 1. 

Orange/Forbes took control in the last term kicking three goals three six to kick away and record a 10.13 (73) to 6.1 (37) victory. 

The under 14’s match was played in gale force conditions, as a result points were at a premium. The Dubbo team kicked an early goal to lead by six early in the first quarter but some good work from Romulus Milsom set up Joey Bock for a goal and the score was evened up soon after, but Dubbo hit back to lead by six at the first break. 

Dubbo handled the conditions better in the second term and they kicked one goal four to nil to take a 3.4 (22) to 1.0 (6) lead into half time. Dubbo’s second term goal was to be the last goal scored for the match. 

The third and fourth terms were as tight as it comes with the Swamp Tigers having several chances but unable to convert, with the only points coming courtesy of behinds from Dubbo. Dubbo was more clinical with their possession and created more chances enabling them to take the win 3.11 (29) to 1.0 (6).

It was great day for the Forbes players with Cayden Metzeling being awarded best on ground for the 14’s. Zain Clark was strong again at the back and Romulus Milsom and Logan McMahon had their best games of the season, while in the 17’s Damien Chopping was named BOG while Reece Matheson was again instrumental in the win.

In other games, the senior side the Parkes Panthers beat Orange 7.13 (55) to 4.3 (27) on Saturday night. Congratulations to Parkes for a great night that also saw the debut of several new Parkes Auskcikers and Forbes Juniors as goal umpires. In the other junior games on Sunday Orange Youth Girls took out Dubbo 13.13 (91) to 1.0 (6)and the under 12’s Orange won 7.6 (48)to 0.2 (2).

Next week there will be no games due to the King’s birthday weekend. The junior season will get re-commence on Sunday June 18 v the Bathurst Giants in Orange, while the Panthers also tackle Giants in Parkes on Saturday 17th June.

Orange/Forbes under 14’s and 17’s both went home disappointed after respective losses to the Bathurst Giants at Giants Park in a chilly Bathurst, last Sunday. 

A strong performance from the Giants under 14’s following up from their win against the Swamp Tigers in the opening round.

Bathurst led from the first few minutes in the under 14’s match thanks to early goals and continued to dominate Orange/Forbes for the rest of the quarter kicking a total of 5 goals 5 to setup a lead of 35 points at the first break. 

After the break Bathurst continued to increase their lead while never letting the Swamp Tigers in the match through their midfield dominance and were able to use their height advantage in the forward line to kick a further six goals in the second and third terms to lead by over 70 points at three quarter time. 

The Swamp Tigers kept the Giants scoreless in the final term and were rewarded for their efforts when Hugo Fitzsimmons kicked the Swamp Tigers first and only goal.

It was a tough day for the 14’s the Swamp Tiger defence who were under siege the entire game and their efforts ensured the damage wasn’t any worse. The midfield and forward line also never dropped their heads and gave their all despite the scoreboard.

Zain Clark was judged best on ground for the game in a losing side, which states how well he played, while Hugo Fitzsimmons and Logan McMahon were the best for the Swamp Tigers.

The under 17’s suffered their first loss for the year going down to the Giants by four points in a cracking game of AFL footy.

In other junior games, Orange Youth Girls went down to Bathurst 1.2 (8) to 5.9 (39) while Orange 12’s also went down, albeit narrowly 6.6 (42) to 9.3 (57)

This week the Orange/Forbes junior’s take on the Bathurst Bushrangers in Orange.

The Swamp Tigers knew they were in for a tough game on Sunday, as the Bathurst Giants controlled possession from the first bounce. Inaccurate kicking from Orange/ Forbes and strong pressure from the Giants in the first quarter enabled the Giants to dominate but Orange/Forbes were able to stay in touching distance at the first break, trailing by only 17 points. 

Orange/Forbes made the same mistakes and Bathurst flexed their muscles and used their superior height to kick four goals to none to put the Swamp Tigers away and take an 8.12 (60) to 0.6 (6) victory. 

Despite the loss there were several promising signs for Orange/Forbes with the midfield performing well and the two best players for Orange/Forbes being debutants Logan McMahon and Raphael Milsom. 

The under 17’s featured the debut of Forbes’ Reece Matheson and it was a great day out for Reece and the rest of his teammate as Orange/Forbes took a first round win over a determined Giants 7.4 (46) to 4.5 (29). 

The third quarter saw the Swamp Tigers take control keeping the Giants scoreless while kicking 2.1 and it was even better in the fourth quarter as Orange/Forbes kicked 3.2 to take a strong win 7.4 (46) to 4.5 (29). 

Best on ground for Orange/Forbes was Harvey Shephard who kicked two goals and Reece Matheson was impressive in his debut game of AFL. 

In the other games the under 12’s won 11.9 (75) to 4.4 (28) whilst in the Youth Girls Orange won 6.9 (45) to 2.6 (18). 

Next week will see Orange/Forbes taking on the Bathurst Bushrangers over in Orange. 

Thank you for all of your support this year, it has been amazing! 

Auskick 2023 registrations are still open. Auskick is a wonderful way for kids to play, learn and develop skills that can be applied to any sport in a fun environment. Auskickers receive an awesome pack when registering, have the opportunity to play at half-time during a GWS Giants home game, and can enter in the NAB Auskicker of the year competition. The cost for the 2023 season is $70. Register online at www.playhq.com/afl/register/fcd3a1.

The Orange/Forbes Swamp Tigers claimed the 2022 AFL Central West under 12 and 14 junior premierships in front of a big crowd at Bathurst on Sunday.

The two teams beat Dubbo Junior AFL and the Bathurst Giants respectively in two nail-biting matches.

The under 14’s won a thriller thanks to Cayden Metzeling. He kicked the match-winner from 30m out on an angle just seconds out from the final siren to beat the Bathurst Giants by five points.

Orange/Forbes and Bathurst took turns leading through the match. The fourth quarter was tightly contested and with just under a minute left in the game, the Swamp Tigers surged forward and put the ball into their attacking 50. While contesting for the ball Cayden Metzeling was taken high in a bump by a defending Giants player and was awarded a free kick. Metzeling had the game on his boot and he kicked the only goal of the last quarter to take the lead with seconds remaining. The final score was Orange/Forbes 6.7 (43) to Bathurst Giants 5.8 (38).

Orange/Forbes had just a little too much class for an incredibly gutsy Dubbo, winning the under 12s grand final by 14 points.

Dubbo had by far the better of the early exchanges, but neither team were able to score a goal in the first quarter with Dubbo leading by one point, while Orange/Forbes led by five points at half time.

Dubbo wrestled back control in the third term with one point lead 8 9. In the final term the Swamp Tigers were leading by 20 points, but Dubbo refused to die and scored a goal to close the gap to fourteen. Final score Orange/Forbes 4.5 (29), Dubbo 2.3 (15). 

The FJAFL would like to congratulate its players on their success and thank everyone for their involvement.

By Alex Milsom

The Orange/Forbes under 12s and 14s will take on the Dubbo Demons and Bathurst Giants respectively in the 2022 AFL Central West Junior Grand Finals in Bathurst on Sunday. 

For the fourth straight game in 2022, the Orange/Forbes 12s and 14s stormed past the Bathurst Bushrangers in the second half to take big wins and lock in the grand final spots. 

In the under 12s the Swamp Tigers were comfortable victors – winning 16.8 (104) to 5.3 (33). 

The Swamp Tigers got off to a strong opening and was leading by 39 at the first break, and by 31 points at half time. Orange/Forbes then shattered the Bathurst resistance in the second half piling on 58 points while conceding only 18 late in the fourth quarter to take the win, the minor premiership and claim the first spot in the grand final. 

The under 12s opponent next week will be the Dubbo Demons after they upset the second placed Bathurst Giants 6.7 (43) to 3.2 (20) last weekend. 

Orange/Forbes also claimed the minor premiership and the first spot in the grand final for the under 14s division when they claimed victory over Bathurst Bushrangers. 

The Swamp Tigers’ four goals in the opening quarter gave them a 20-point lead at quarter time, and extend their lead to 29 at half time. 

Bathurst had a 35-point deficit at three-quarter time, and with no score in the last quarter the Swamp Tigers took the win 7.7 (490 to 2.1 (13). 

The victory secured Orange/Forbes the minor premiership and a spot in this week’s grand final playing the Bathurst Giants. The under 14s Grand Final has the potential to be the game of the day, as barely anything has separated these two teams all year. 

By Alex Milsom