AFL Central West: Bathurst Giants women beat Dubbo to make it back-to-back premierships

What mattered was the Giants women were crowned premiers for a second season in a row.

While it was not an undefeated premiership as was the case in 2019, what the Giants overcame on their way to glory at George Park 2 still made it sweet.

Like every club they had to deal with the hurdles posed by the COVID-19 pandemic then a final round bye followed by a week off due to finishing as minor premiers presented another challenge.

But the Liz Kennedy coached side overcame all those pressures and then got the job done against an Enily Warner-inspired Demons on Saturday.

"There probably was more pressure this year, but I knew the girls were ready for it. As soon as they started turning up this morning at my place for breakfast, you can read these girls, they were switched on and they were ready," Kennedy said.

"Every single thing we've worked on at training in the last three weeks just came out there today.

"Job done, tick that box. Back-to-back - bloody amazing."

The only score of the opening term was a rushed behind to the Giants with just 36 seconds gone, but the scoreboard was certainly not a reflection of the effort.

Both Dubbo's Emily Warner and Dom Mitton from the Giants had some quality possessions as they tried to work the ball inside their attacking 50s.

In the eighth minute Giants defender Chelsea Gibbs came up with a desperation smoother when Dubbo's Lauren Hazell lined up a shot - the sort of effort which typified what the Bathurst back line produced all match.

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Two minutes into the second term Dubbo had an ideal chance to get on the board when Warner picked out Trudy Sloane some 30 metres out. But into the wind her kick did not have the legs.

The Giants were quick to clear after that and the remainder of the quarter was spent in their half. That good field position and weight of possession finally led to the first major of the match in the 10th minute of the term as Elise Gullifer threw ball on boot.

It saw the Giants led 1-1-7 to nil at half-time.

The Demons got their first points of the contest three minutes and 13 seconds into the third quarter via a behind. With the wind at their backs and Warner racking up the possessions, they continued to test the Giants defence.

But it was a defence which stood strong with only one more behind conceded.

Things were still tense in the final term as just five points separated the rivals, Hazell having a shot bounce away from an open goal.

But with four minutes to go Hailee Provest found a second major for the Giants with an over the shoulder snap and two minutes later - after a perfect delivery from Jayarna Kay - Olivia Johnston added a third.

Just as had been the case on grand final day in 2018, Dubbo's Warner was named best on ground.

She was superb from the opening siren as she racked up a huge amount of possessions - many of them contested - provided the Demons with drive through the centre corridor and when the Giants were in possession, tackled hard.

While this time she did not have a premiers' medal to accompany her best on ground award, Warner still enjoyed the contest.

"Look I think it was just an amazing game. We are so happy to be here and we got amazing support," she said.

"We tried out best but their defence was really strong and they just held us. We were coming and coming, but the played really well and did really well under pressure.

"Every contest was hard and you knew it was going to be from the start. With the Giants there are always hard at the footy.

"It's been a fantastic year with all these new players, I'm very excited to be here. Everybody has by the end of the year just slotted into their roles and they give 110 percent, you couldn't pick one player out there who wasn't giving it their all."