In a hard-fought slog in the mud and the rain, Orange Tigers nabbed their first win of the 2020 AFL Central West season over the Dubbo Demons at Waratahs on Saturday.

With the centre square resembling more of a bog than a football oval, the Tigers were able to run out 5-13-43 to 4-3-27 winners in the club's annual R U OK Day clash.

Pete Byrne kicked two goals up forward as the Tigers proved too good in the conditions.

The Demons were missing Bevan Charlton-White through back injury, as well as a small host of other players, but got off to a hot start in the first, holding the Tigers goalless to go in 13 points up at quarter time - with Joey Hedger sending in a cross which wouldn't have looked out of place at the World Cup - but at the break the tide turned.

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Mick Evans, Gus Henderson and Ike Dean drove the ball out of the bog that was the middle of the ground while Callan Naden was busy up forward.

Naden was named best afield by Hayley Rothnie, sister of former Tiger Chris Rothnie who was honoured with a minute's silence before each of Saturday's three games.

While the young speedster said the win felt "really good", the day itself was about more than football.

"It's such a important day to acknowledge people who are having a rough time or dealing with mental health issues," Naden said.

"This round stays close to my heart as many others of our team and people should remember to talk to people as there's always someone to talk to.

"We knew we really wanted the win for Chrisso as it's an important round, and we really bonded together and went at every contest hard for the ball."

Naden singled out Henderson as a bull through the middle as well as father-son duo Zach and Ben Cullis at either end of the ground and Pete Byrne alongside him up forward.

The Tigers finally clicked in a way which just hasn't in the opening four rounds of the season.

"It was deserving and we worked really hard for it, we went hard for the ball all day and came out on top," Naden said.

"It was hard playing in the mud and setting marks but we wanted the win and we worked all day to get the four points in tough conditions.

"We were there to win every contest and come away with the win."

Demons coach Steve Smith said the Tigers "played the ground and the conditions a lot better than we did", admitting the hosts' wayward kicking kept the visitors in it.

Joe Hedger stood up as captain while Bill Ormonde showed skills with the muddy ball, but the Demons' bigger bodies which had out-muscled the Tigers in their first two clashes in 2020 weren't as potent with the ball below the knees most of the day.

"We'll learn from this and come back bigger and stronger," he said.