The losses of previous years must seem like a distant memory to the men of the Dubbo Demons.
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The side is playing some of the best footy they've managed in recent memory and has gone unbeaten in the opening three rounds.
Senior men's coach Steve Smith says the atmosphere around the club is a little hard to put into words.
"It's unbelievable, and it's not just us, the women are 2 - 1 as well and we've got so much competition for spots on the team," Smith said.
"We're getting great numbers at training and the flow on effect for everyone else is amazing."
This weekend the Demons will face their toughest test yet, going up against the similarly undefeated Bathurst Bushrangers.
It's a prospect as daunting as it is exciting for Smith and his playing group, and even at this early stage it has the feelings of finals footy.
"It does feel like that, it's almost like a mini-final for us, they're a sensational side, they won the flag last year and they're two top grade sides combined to make one this year," Smith said.
"If you do the sums, it's almost like climbing Mt Everest to get there and beat them, but we're playing some really good footy at the moment."
But Smiths says he expects the wild conditions that are anticipated at South Dubbo Oval to be an equaliser.
"The wet'll even the sides up a bit, but I think we're fitter and bigger and stronger than they are," Smith said.
"I'll say we're faster too, because I want them fired up."
A big driver for the team's confidence has been the all-in style of team-building this time around, with no players expected to do more than anyone else.
"The eighteenth bloke we pick is just as important as the first bloke picked, we've got some cracking players, but everyone has to do their job, that's been the biggest change," Smith said.
While it means that players like Bevan Charlton-White might not top out their stats from last year, it's also sparked an all around effort that's hard to deny.
"It's not necessarily about Bill [Ormonde] getting forty touches and Bevan kicking eight goals on his own, we need everyone, and it might just be as simple as locking up the ball for that eighteenth man," Smith said.
"Bevan's not even our leading goal kicker this year which is sensational for us, we've got four guys in the top ten in the league at the moment, which is great."
"We've got a good spread of kickers and on-ballers and we've trained in all different positions, Bevan might be playing fullback this weekend and he might not even see the goals."
Indeed, the centre seems to be where Smith and the Demons are focusing their attentions in the lead-up, hoping to out-muscle a younger, quicker team looking to repeat last year's success.
"We're bigger and a little bit older, I think if we can put that little bit of doubt in their mind, that'll go a long way."
- Steve Smith
"Winning the ball from the centre is going to be huge, especially in wet weather footy, we're going to have to get those clearances and be hard at the ball," Smith said.
"We're bigger and a little bit older, I think if we can put that little bit of doubt in their mind, that'll go a long way."
"If you get an eighteen year old that's fast and light and he gets hit fairly by one of our boys, he'll think twice about being first at the ball next time."
"We're all going to have to work hard, get in at the ball and put our more mature, bigger boys up against them."
The match-up hold particular promise for one of the Demons' most promising recruits, with Bill Ormonde lining up against a few familiar faces, having come across to the Demons from last year's Bushrangers outfit.
"Bill's playing against his old side, which should be interesting, it's going to be really cold and wet, but we're hoping to get as many locals down there to the ground supporting us," Smith said.
"We're both 3 - 0, so it's going to be a great match up."
The Demons take on the Bushrangers at 2.30pm, Saturday on South Dubbo Oval.
