The Forbes Junior AFL Club made history on Sunday hosting a home game and competition at the Gaggin Oval for the first time in 36 years. 

All grades of the Orange/Forbes and Orange sides took wins over Dubbo Junior AFL in the AFL Central West junior competition. 

The Orange/Forbes under 12s continued their winning run with a commanding 50-point win against Dubbo. 

It was victory number eight for the Swamp Tigers as they won 8.14 (62) to 1.6 (12) in what can only be described as the best weather seen in Forbes all year for football of any code. 

Experienced mid-forwards Jack Sara and Sebastian Felice scored two goals each, while Zavier Felice kicked the last one in the last quarter to ice the game after Dubbo kept pressing throughout the contest. 

Best on ground were the Felice brothers, Zavier and Sebastian, along with Nicholas Wood. Mr Consistent, Max Ridge, was strong in the ruck, Tyson McLennan continues to improve each game, while the defensive duo of Romulus Milsom and Will Northey were strong. 

A blistering start and five goals from an inspired Cayden Metzeling propelled Orange/Forbes under 14s to a 57-point victory over Dubbo in round 9 of the competition. 

The Swamp Tigers slotted seven unanswered goals in the first half with Dubbo failing to back up the performance of their last encounter when Dubbo nearly caused an upset. 

Playing their first match after three weeks off and representative break, the Orange/ Forbes Swamp Tigers were a shining light in the 9.10 (64) to 1.1 (7) result. 

In other games the Orange Youth Girls took full advantage of the large Gaggin Oval to smash Dubbo 16.12 (108) to 0.1 (11), while in the under 17s Orange/Forbes won 12.1 (73) to 3.6 (24), in what was a very enjoyable match to watch. 

By Alex Milsom 

It was a frantic game played in perfect winter conditions, the Dubbo Demons started full of fire before the Orange/Forbes Swamp Tigers were able to take the lead in the third quarter at Orange. 

Dubbo took the Swamp Tigers by surprise with their physical play and ball movement to lead by thirteen points early in the first term before Orange/Forbes were able to settle and take a quarter time lead. Dubbo took control in the second term kicking three goals three to nil to take a fourteen point lead at half time. The third term was the complete opposite with Orange/Forbes kicking four goals three to one behind to lead by twelve points going into the last break. In the last quarter the game went to another level with both teams moving the ball, looking to score and take the win in a frantic finish. The final score was Orange/Forbes 8.8 (56), Dubbo 6.6 (42). 

The under 12’s match was an equally absorbing affair. The Dubbo under 12’s kicked an early goal to lead by six. Tyson McLennan’s first AFL goal evened up the score soon after, but Dubbo took a narrow lead into the first break. The Swamp/Tigers kicked six goals and five behinds and kept Dubbo scoreless throughout the second and third terms. Dubbo rallied in the final quarter and kicked two early goals, but again Orange/Forbes were able to respond. The final score was Orange/Forbes 10.9 (69) to Dubbo’s 5.0 (30). 

Tyson McLennan was awarded best on ground (BOG) for the under 12’s, while Will Northey, played strongly in defence, Max Ridge was dominant in the ruck and Romulus Milsom again played well. In the under 14’s Jackson Beaudin made it a dominant day for the FJAFL also being named BOG, while Zain Clark put in his best performance of the year in defence and was instrumental in their win. 

In other games the Orange Youth Girls took out Dubbo 14.4 (88) to 2.2 (14), while in the under 17’s Orange/Forbes won 9.10 (64) to 0.2 (2). 

This week Orange/Forbes take on the Giants in Bathurst. 

Winter has arrived and delivered the Orange/Forbes under 12s and 14s strong wins over Bathurst Bushrangers on Sunday. 

The first Sunday of winter produced an opening quarter full of tough, miserable footy in Bathurst as the players struggled to come to terms with the extreme conditions. 

It took a moment of class from Orange/ Forbes 12s to get the ball rolling early in the first quarter. The Swamp Tigers sneaked a goal to put Orange/Forbes on the board and scored again quickly after. Bathurst replied with one behind to bring the score to 12.1 at quarter time. 

Bathurst got their first goal in the second quarter inside the first minute and their second minutes later, but Orange/Forbes put paid to any comeback kicking three goals to have a comfortable lead at half time. The final two quarters were controlled by the Swamp Tigers kicking three goals to none to take the game 8.12 (60) to 2.2 (14). 

Best on ground for Orange/Forbes were Jack Sara and Romulus Milsom. Making his AFL debut was Forbes’ Will Northey who played very well. 

The under 14’s match was all Orange/ Forbes in the wet and cold, not a vastly different looking side to the one that touched up Dubbo in Orange last Sunday. Cayden Metzeling continued a massive couple of weeks as the boy from Forbes followed up an eight-goal performance against Dubbo to bag another bunch of goals against the Bushrangers. The Orange/Forbes defence was troubled at times during the match but were always in control holding the Bushrangers to just nine points, with Zain Clark again leading the way. The under 14’s won the match 11.15 (81) to 1.3 (9). 

In the other junior games Orange youth girls won 4.8 (32 to 4.3 (27), while the Orange under 17s triumphed 5.11 (41) to 1.5 (11). 

By Alex Milsom 

Round 4: The Orange/Forbes Swamp Tigers and the Bathurst Giants each caused an upset in Round 4 of the Central West AFL junior season. The Swamp Tigers under 12s got one back over Bathurst, while the Giants handed the Orange/Forbes 14s their first loss of the year with a five-point win at Orange. 

In the under 12s Bathurst kicked the first three goals, and was leading by 20 points, but in the second term the Swamp Tigers kicked seven goals to none to take a 30-point margin into half-time, and took the win 8.5 (53) to 4.5 (29). 

The 14s was a tale of four quarters, with the first three quarters dominated by the Bathurst Giants. The Giant’s looked like they had it leading by 38 points, but the Swamp Tigers scored five goals. They had the momentum but not enough time and fell five agonising points short going down 6.7 (43) to 5.8 (38). 

Round 5: Orange/Forbes under 12s and 14s both took home dominant 54-point and 78-point wins over Dubbo in Orange on Sunday. Dubbo led for the first few minutes in the under 12s match, but the Swamp Tigers showed determined defence with their established attacking flair with three majors in the first quarter, followed by three more goals in the second. Dubbo clawed back to within 35 points in the third quarter but Orange/Forbes kicked away again in the last quarter to take a 10.8 (68) and 2.2 (14) win. 

The Orange/Forbes under 14s were even more impressive. Cayden Metzeling had a field day kicking eight as the Swamp Tigers endeavoured to make sure things were over quickly. They kicking four goals in the first quarter, and another three goals in the second to lead by 34 points at half time. Dubbo juniors kicked 19 points, but Orange/Forbes piled on another 41 points in the last quarter to win 16.8 (104) to 4.2 (26). 

By Alex Milso 

The Orange/Forbes under 12s and 14s stormed home to record two strong wins on Saturday versus Dubbo at the South Dubbo Oval. 

The Swamp Tigers under 12s are now 2-1, while the 14’s are 3-0 after defeating Dubbo and banking a third consecutive win. 

The Swamp Tigers under 14s were the best team for most of the game. The 14s kicked away in the third and fourth quarters to put the game to bed and take the win 12.10 (82) to 4.3 (27). 

Seven days after being stunned by a depleted Bathurst Giants outfit in a fourth-quarter onslaught that saw the Giants record a come-from-behind victory, the Orange/Forbes under 12s produced a determined and controlled response and took the win 10.14 (74) to 3.1 (19). 

Wet and muddy conditions could not stop Orange/Forbes take the win after the Swamp Tigers defeated Bathurst Bushrangers in the Under 12 and Under 14’s by 19 and 47 points respectively in Round 1 of the AFL Central West’s junior competition. 

Max Ridge, in his first AFL game, shined, and Tyson McLennan, Romulus Milsom and Jackson Beaudin were not far behind as Orange/Forbes recovered from a half-time deficit to bank four premiership points.The Swamp Tigers took control in the third quarter and never looked back. 

For the 14’s the day was a more straightforward affair as they were never really threatened cruising to a 10.14.(74) 4.3.(27) win.Zain Clark was the pick of the bunch in defence, while Cayden Metzeling played strongly. 

In the other games the Orange Youth Girls won 3.3.(21) to 2.1.(13), while the Under 17’s easily beat Bushrangers 10.11.(71 to 3.4.(22). 

Round 2 

Bathurst Giants came from behind to overrun Forbes/Orange and win by 2 points on Sunday morning, with the Giants kicking the winning goal in the final minute of the match. 

The Giants had hung in against the Swamp Tigers throughout the contest but trailed by 20 points at the last change. 

But the Giants were massive in the frantic final term, kicking two goals ten as the Giants piled on the pressure and powered its way to the 6.10 (46) to 7.2 (44) victory. 

The 14’s was equally as exciting with only one point separating the teams at the 

match for three quarters, only for the Giants to turn up the pressure in the fourth quarter to get within one. 

However, the Forbes/Orange showed the poise and the guys and girls were able to outlast the relentless Giants pressure and hang on for the win 5.8 (38) to 5.7 (37) 

By Alex Milsom