The AFL Central West draw has been revealed

All three of the Demons' senior sides will travel down the Mitchell Highway to take on the Bathurst Bushrangers at George Park 2 on April 29, part of the all-Bathurst first round.

Bathurst Giants will also host Orange making for all four Tier 1 Men's sides playing within a hundred metres of each other.

But the biggest story from the draw release is the return of Cowra to the women's competition, with the Blues entering a team for the first time since 2020.

AFL Central West Competition and Development Coordinator Casey White believes the Blues' return to the grade is going to do wonders for the club as a whole.

"I think that's the real key out of this year's competition," he said.

"To have the return of Cowra in women's footy, especially with Mulyan Oval being renamed Geoff Day Oval.

"The club can now have a full match day. The team and the transfers coming through are making it look like they will have a pretty side on paper for both of their grades.

"They could be tough to beat which is great for the competition, a strong Cowra generally means a strong AFL Central West."

Cowra will field a Tier 2 Men's team also, with the club beginning to return to normal after a tough few years.

"Hopefully it shows there is a bit of light at the end of the tunnel after a few years of COVID and wet weather impacts," White said.

"At a senior level, clubs are starting to get back to normal and starting to build out the competition.

"If we can have a competitive year across the board, it's what the players want."

Now a five-team competition, one side will have the bye each week but the Demons, won't have to wait too long to get a crack at the Bathurst Giants in a grand final rematch.

The Bathurst club will be in town for round two, with all three grades to play at South Dubbo Oval.

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In the Tier 2 competition, Bathurst Bushrangers have decided to just enter one team after nominating a pair of sides in the past, something White believes became a tough task at times in 2022.

"It became a competitive balance issue as well because they had another side which was more likely to finish at the bottom of the ladder," he said.

"If we can get six strong teams, that's going to be better. Especially with the Bushrangers, they were having to run around to find extra players this week but now they can don't have to worry about it.

"It's the right decision I think, that also means there are now byes in the Tier 2 competition which gives everyone more footy."

The Tier 1 Men's competition will once again feature just the four teams but there is hope from White that this could be one of the closest seasons in recent memory.

"We are seeing the transfers rolling in and some players from handy leagues are coming to the competition," he said.

"It's going to be exciting to watch once round one rolls around, I think it's going to be a pretty competitive division.

"I understand that there are some challenges around it only being a four-team competition but those four teams are going to give it a pretty red-hot crack.

"Hopefully we can have the finals hosting rights come down to the last couple of rounds."

Other key fixtures in the draw will be Sir Doug Nicholls round which will take place across rounds four and five with two clubs already locked in to wear specially designed jerseys.

At the end of July, the annual Chris Rothnie Memorial match will be played between Orange and Dubbo, this year's fixture will be played at Waratahs Sports Club.

The season will begin on April 29.

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