2013 RFNL SEASON RESULTS

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PLAYER TRANSERS

IN: Brendan Fevola (Yarrawonga), James Kennedy (Finley), Richard Malone, Brandon Mathews (Wodonga Raiders), Daniel Moysey (Cobden), Lance Poka and Trevor Richards (Yenda RL), James Taylor (Yoogali S.C.). 

OUT: Tom Buckley, Jethro Calma-Holt (North Albury), Dylan Cudmore (Bright), Rick Daniher, Matthew Griffin, Andrew Hawkins (Finley), Tom Miller (Rosebud), Matthew Noonan (Wagga Tigers), Brett Owen; Brendan Fevola (Monbulk).

 FEV SET TO SWAN INTO RFL – By Scott Hazlewood 

FORMER AFL star Brendan Fevola is poised to play a one-off showpiece game for the Griffith Swans early next Riverina Football League season. The deal, which is currently in an advanced stage, would see the former Coleman Medallist pull on the red and white within three rounds of the competition. However, The Area News has learned a “wildcard” could be played, with Fevola understood to be on the radar of at least one AFL club ahead of the national draft. If the 31-year-old is selected to resume his AFL career it would scuttle Swans’ officials dreams of having the high-profile forward gracing the Exies Oval. However, Griffith (out-going) president George Duncan was confident they would land their man saying it could be a shot in the arm for the club and the game. “That’s part of the reason of doing this to promote the game and try to get other people in to support the club, not just Aussie Rules people,” Duncan said. “We’re battling with other codes, but hopefully people will want to come and see this guy because he has been to the top.” Club legend Bob Spears was the catalyst for the move, reaching out to Fevola’s people six weeks before the end of the RFL season. However, the matter of Fevola’s appearance fee had to be settled with Duncan saying the club covered itself just in case the spearhead is unable to take his place in the side, with a refund clause written into the contract. 
The 2013 RFL draw is yet to be finalised, but Duncan said the club will do everything in its power to maximise the marketing potential of the showdown. “We’re going to try and play the game on Sunday, so hopefully we can be only Aussie Rules game in the RFL on that day,” Duncan said. “So we’re looking to draw people as well from the Northern Riverina Football League to come to town to watch the game and the western half of the Riverina and even to Wagga. “Because Leeton and Griffith always have good crowds, and hopefully if both teams can win their first game they can come here unbeaton, and having Fevola in the side it’ll bring people from all over.” Despite his well-publicised history of off-field behaviour, Fevola was a model clubman at the Yarrawonga Pigeons, who he helped to an Ovens and Murray flag this year. “The reports we’ve heard that he was good with the juniors down there and after they won the grand final, he actually went back to the club a week later for their end of season break-up, which is a good sign,” Duncan said. (The Area News, Wednesday October 24, 2012). 

 NEW FACE OF SPORTS DESK 

BROADENING the number of sports covered and celebrating the success of our younger stars are at the top of the priority list for the incoming The Area News sports editor Vince Rugari. Rugari, 22, last week replaced outgoing sports editor Scott Hazlewood, who after more than five years in the chair has embarked on a round-the- world trip.  A self confessed sports tragic, Rugari has played competitive cricket, AFL, basketball and football, and also tasted success as a university football coach. Rugari was born in Adelaide, but has spent the past six years on the Gold Coast, competing a journalism degree at Bond University before a one-year stint in the media department of former A-League franchise, Gold Coast United. He has been a freelance writer for leading website Sportal for close to three years, covering some of the biggest sporting events in the nation, including Test matches, a State of Origin decider and two A-League grand finals. He is a regular columnist with The Roar.com.au and a contributor to Goal.com – but it’s grassroots sport where his passion lies. “I’m excited about the challenge of covering sport in the city where football, AFL, rugby league and netball are all major winter codes.” Rugari said. “Sport is the bedrock of regional areas like this and it’s a privilege to be able to tell the stories and celebrate the achievements of locals. “I want to reflect what’s happening out here in the sporting community, rather that dictate what I think is important.” (The Area News, Friday December 14, 2012).

 DATE WITH FEV A CARROT FOR SWANS - By Vince Rugari 

NEWLY appointed Griffith Swans coach Guy Orton has two carrots ready to dangle if his men need a bit of extra motivation to get through a gruelling new pre-season regime. The first is the opportunity for redemption after missing out on the finals by percentage once again this season – only for fifth-place Narrandera to win the grand final. The second is a chance to play alongside Brendan Fevola in his one-off appearance in Swans colours early next year. “From the first training we had a few weeks ago I said that the guys that are here and keen and working hard in the pre-season will play with Fev,” Orton said. “If the senior guys think they can just rock up late and roll into the side, it’s not going to happen. “There’s a nice buzz around the club at the moment and it’s going to be a great experience for everyone.” But top of the agenda for Orton, who will steer the club next year alongside assistant coach Michael Duncan, reserves coach Greg Dreyer and under 17s boss Damien Scott, is premiership glory. “We weren’t that far off it at all last season,” he insists. “The last couple of years we’ve missed out on the top five by percentage and it’s been heart breaking.  “We’ve mixed things up this pre-season with a few little changes and a fitness coach we’ve brought in, so we’ll be really to go again for what will be another pretty tight competition.”
Meanwhile, the Swans will not be left out of pocket as a result of a merger of the under 17s divisions from the Riverina Fooball League and the Farrer League. The unification was approved by clubs at AFL Riverina’s annual general meeting on Monday night in Wagga and will take effect from 2013 onwards. It means Griffith will now have to travel to North Wagga and Temora – the only two Farrer clubs with underage sides – as part of the new-look competition. AFL Riverina football operations manager Shane Buchanan conceded this could result in an unavoidable stretch on resources with senior and junior teams likely to be asked to play in different towns on the same day. “What we’re asking is that the clubs go into this with an open mind and try to help each other out,’’ Buchanan said. To Griffith’s credit they travel week-in, week-out and don’t whinge or complain about it.” (The Area News, Friday December 14, 2012).

 SWANS GAIN IRISH LUCK – By Vince Rugari 

THE Irish experiment has hit Griffith. For decades, AFL clubs have traded Gaelic football and transformed amateur sportsman like Jim Stynes, Tadhg Kennelly and Parce Hanley into professional stars. Now the Griffith Swans will get a crack at this style of code conversion, with a keen bunch of Irish backpackers hoping to play in the Riverina Football League this year. “One guy, Ethan Murphy, is 6’5’’ and has played a fair bit of Gaelic football. He plays as a forward, as one of the main goalkickers,” coach Guy Orton said. “These guys are pretty set on playing. They’ve been to quite a lot of training sessions already. “When you haven’t played the game before, obviously we’ve got to show them the ropes but if you end up being good enough for a senior spot, then they’re good enough.” The first thing the foreigners must come to grips with is the weather, with Griffith’s relentless summer heat clearly a world away from the chill of an Irish winter. “I was talking to Ethan after the first training and he said when they train, it’s cold as,” Orton said. “Then they’ve got to get used to the shape of the ball, obviously. “Last night after we finished I took a couple of the boys aside and were trying to teach them how to kick the footy properly, which is what they need. “Later on in the year we’ll know how they’ll adapt to the physical side of the game with our tackling drills but I don’t think they’ll be scared at all.”
But the Irish invasion hasn’t been the only source of fresh faces at Swans pre-season training. Basketballers Steven McCanna, Dean Spratt and Todd Howard have all followed former Demons boss and new fitness coach Andrew Cullen to the Swans. Obviously Andrew’s a bit of a draw card for them, but last year they said they were all keen to play,” Orton said.
Aside from the code swappers, the Swans have finally locked in a handful of new recruits with genuine footy experience. Midfielder James Kennedy and key position player Richard Malone have both moved to Griffith for work reasons after last year playing for Finley in the Murray League. ‘It’s a pretty strong comp they’re coming from so they’ll be handy players for us, Orton said. “James is pretty wiry but quick and has some good skills on him, and Richard’s a big guy with a good st of hands. Hopefully we can use them around the ground.

The others are Dan Moysey, Bart Mackay and Thomas Smith, a former junior returning to the club. “They’re all training well and fitting in nicely,” Orton said. (The Area News, January 25, 2013).

 NEW RECRUITS LIFT SWANS – By Vince Rugari 

A NEW wave of code-hoppers will get their first taste of action for the Griffith Swans  tomorrow afternoon in the club’s first pre-season practice match. Ex-Yenda Bleheelers pack leader Lance Poka and former Yoogali SC player James Taylor are both set to feature alongside the Swans Irish contingent against the visiting Overs and Murray outfit Corowa-Rutherglen, who are coached by former Griffith lad Adrian Pavese. Griffith coach Guy Orton sees the scratch match as an ideal opportunity to find out exactly where his new-look side is ahead of the start of the Riverina Football League season next month. “We won’t have a full-strength side but it’s a good chance to not worry about structure or anything like that and see how we go,” he said. “The new guys, we’ll throw them around in a few positions and see how comfortable they are with the game and where there best spot on the field might be.” Poka, long considered one of the most fearsome forwards in Group 20, might be the pick of the bunch. Having traded his rugby league jersey alongside fellow Blueheeler stalwart Trevor Richards at the end of last season, there’s is no denying Poka’s imposing physical presence no matter what sport. “We put him in a defensive jumper the other night at training in one of our drill and the boys didn’t want to run near him,” Orton said. “Lance has been training really, really well. He’s pretty determined to play seniors through the year. “I don’t think Trev (Richards) will be out there this weekend but Poks will have a run – he needs to get familiar with the rules and all that stuff over the next few weeks.” 
Meanwhile, James Taylor has swapped the round ball for the Sherrin, and Orton said the YSC gun was also keen to play first grade. “We’ll see how he goes and if he likes it, he stick around, He’s looking good too,” he said. Orton is also excited about Irishman Niall McGovern’s first run. “He played Gaelic football back home at a level that was pretty much state-level and he’s picked up our game really, really well,” he said. “He’ll get a start. He’s fit so even if we gave him a tagging role he could run all day.” (The Area News, Friday March 1, 2013).

Round 1 - Saturday April 13, 2013 at Maher Oval 2.10pm

Turvey Park ... 2.2 .. 2.3 .. 6.8 .. 10.8 (68)
Griffith ............ 4.1 .. 7.7 .. 12.8 .. 16.12 (108)
Goals: Turvey Park: T Gaynor 4, T Marlow 3, Matt Ness 2, J Donaldson
Griffith: K Duncan 3, J Kennedy 3, B Mathews 2, D Peruzzi 2, J Fallon, J Toscan, M Duncan, G Orton, G Snaidero, J Taylor
Best: Turvey Park: C Cerato, Matt Ness, J Fletcher, W. Carroll, T Gaynor, J Winnel
Griffith: G Orton, J Gastin, R Johns, C Jenkins, J Kennedy, M Crack

Turvey Park: D Feary, J Fletcher, J Donaldson; Matt Ness, N Weldon-Bowen, B Bryce; J Cunningham, D Toose, V Winnel; M Mattingly, D Cameron, R McPherson; T Gaynor, T Marlow, T Rowley; W Carroll, C Cerato (c-c), Michael Ness; R McPherson, J Leahy, T Kenny, B Weedon, L McCrae
Griffith: R Johns, R Malone*, J Taylor*; J Gastin, G Snaidero, C Jenkins; T West, B Mathews*, D Peruzzi, D Crack, J Fallon, M Crack; K Duncan, J Toscan, J Kennedy*; J Gordon*, G Orton (c-c), M Duncan; M Hogan, T Webb, J Tyrell, D Moysey*

Umpires: B Robinson, R Johnston (RUA)

Other matches: Collingullie-AK 15.10 (100) def by Ganmain-GGM 17.7 (109), Leeton-Whitton 6.11 (47) def by Narrandera 9.13 (67); Coolamon 21.14 (140) def Wagga 11.3 (69); Mangoplah-CUE, bye.

Reserves: Griffith 7.7 (49) d Turvey Park 5.7 (37)

Goals: J Hampel 2, T Richards 2, D Dunbar, C Harrison
Under 17: Turvey Park 17.18 (120) d Griffith 4.3 (27)

Goals: C Cunial 2, K Ruyg, B Moore

Match report: The Griffith Swans will take winning form into “Fev week” after disposing of Turvey Park by 40 points on Saturday in Wagga. Never in doubt against the reigning RFL wooden spooners, the Swans will now turn their full attention towards arguably their biggest home-and-away clash in years. Brendan Fevola will make his long-awaited one-off appearance in red and white this Sunday, when Griffith host rivals Leeton-Whitton at Exies Oval. And the three-time All-Australian and two-time Coleman Medallist will stroll into the forward line that is firing on all cylinders. Club stalwart Kris Duncan and new recruit James Kennedy booted three goals each against the Bulldog in a performance that has coach Guy Orton licking his lips at the prospect of having the in-form pair feeding off Fevola’s scraps. ‘There’s not many backline players (in the RFL) that will go with them. They’re just too quick,” he said. “Next week obviously we’ve have Brendan, so our structure will change a little bit, but we’ll keep those small forwards as ‘crumbers’. “That’s how we want it anyway – so if it does come to ground we’ll have someone there.” Not that Orton will be making too much of Fevola’s whirlwind trip to the city. While Sunday’s match is shaping as a major off-field boon for the Swans, the coach will be keeping a lid on the hype and hysteria in the change rooms. “It’s going to be exciting, definitely. It’s one of those things I suppose. I’ve played with other ex-AFL players so it’s nothing new to me, but other boys around the club it’s going to be a big thing for them.” 
The Swans started strongly against Turvey Park and led by as much as 10 goals until some second-half lapses allowed the home side to chip away at the margin. Aside from three-goal heoes Kennedy and Duncan, Orton also praised the performances of Royce Johns, Jonathan Gastin, Daniel Peruzzi and Mathew Crack. Griffith had a total of 10 individual goalkickers, which Orton said was a sign of a team with plenty of spread and depth. “About three of those are backline players, so our run from the back was sensational as well,” he said. “It’s good to get those early wins on the board as soon as we can, because we want to play finals football and it takes the pressure off us later in the year.” Former Overs and Murray midfielder Brandon Mathews also made his Swans debut, capping it off with two goals. Orton said the win was dedicated to brothers Mathew and Dean Crack, who both reached their 100 senior games milestones at Maher Oval. “The boys were thinking about it and I mentioned it in our pre-game speech and after the game. It’s a great achievement, and that was for them,” he said. ((By Vince Rugari – The Area News, Monday April 15, 2013).

 AFTER YOU, FEV – By Vince Rugari 

IF it was anyone else coming to take his spot, Griffith Swans forward James Toscan would probably be fuming. But the self-confessed Carlton die-hard is all too happy to get out of the way and let Brendan Fevola own the goal-square when the ex-AFL star grace Exies Oval on Sunday. “I‘ll gladly move aside. Whatever’s the best for the team, pretty much,” Toscan said. “I’m a Carlton boy so I used to watch him a fair bit. I’ve got one of his jumpers, which is a bit sad. I can’t wait to play with him.

Toscan started at full-forward on the weekend in the 40-point win over Turvey Park, but he expects to move a little higher up the park to give Fevola room to do what he does best – take marks and kick goals.

Captain-coach Guy Orton is keen to keep a lid on the hype, but there is an undeniable air of excitement around Griffith in anticipation of the three-time All-Australian’s cameo against rivals Leeton-Whitton. “There’s going to be a fair bit of buzz. It’s pretty much unprecedented in the past 10 years, to have a bloke here of his calibre that probably should be still playing AFL,” Toscan said.

“We concentrated on Turvey Park last week and there was a bit of banter with the boys about him but we wanted to get the job done in the first round, and get the win on the board before we worry about this week.” But Fevola should add plenty firepower up front, it is off the field where he is expected to make the biggest impact. Club president Jeff Harris said the match is one of the biggest in Griffith’s 99-year history. “We wouldn’t have anyone close to his calibre play for the club. The closest, I reckon you’re going back to the days of Les Parish,” he said. “It puts us forward as a proactive and progressive club and it provides us with an opportunity to promote footy to the wider Griffith area. “I certainly get stopped in the street and asked plenty about it. From the playing group perspective, the boys are certainly up and about. They were working hard in the off-season anyway but it’s a nice little carrot to dangle in front of them.”

Toscan a homegrown Swans junior, said he hopes Fevola’s presence inspires others to trade their round ball or Steeden for a Sherrin. “If there are kids who are umming and ahhing over whether to come over from soccer and rugby, it could definitely be that factor that just sways them away and gets them to training,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of guys come over from different codes into our senior side and they really enjoy it. “I’m not really big on bringing in a heap of outside players – I’m pretty big on working on the juniors and getting those boys to stick around. In the end, that’s what wins you a premierships.”

One player who won’t get to enjoy the ‘Fevolution’ is in-form recruit James Kennedy, who booted three goals against Turvey Park. Kennedy is ruing his luck with family commitments forcing him out of town this weekend. (The Area News, Wednesday April 17, 2013)

Round 2 - Sunday April 21, 2013 at Griffith Exies Oval 2.10pm                    Full match report here ....

Griffith ................ 0.0 .. 4.1 .. 8.3 .. 13.9 (87)
Leeton-Whitton .. 6.3 .. 7.6 .. 9.10 .. 13.15 (93)
Goals: Griffith: B Fevola 7, K Duncan 2, D Moysey, M Duncan, J Toscan, D Crack
Leeton-Whitton: K O'Malley 4, G Commins 3, J O'Callaghan 2, T Meline, B Boots, B Curley, L O'Callaghan
Best: Griffith: M Duncan, J Toscan, R Malone, J Gastin, B Mathews, J Taylor
Leeton-Whitton: W Overs, B O'Garey, J Gornall, B Curley, B Boots, M Dryburgh
Griffith: R Johns, R Malone, J Taylor; J Gastin, J Tyrell, T Matheson; T West, C Jenkins, D Moysey; J Fallon, J Toscan, M Crack; K Duncan, B Fevola*, D Crack; J Gordon, G Orton (c-c), M Duncan; G Snaidero, B Mathews, T Webb, D Peruzzi

Leeton-Whitton: J Gornall, N Carn, C Downes; S Browning, W Overs, C Townsend; J Spina, B Curley, M Irvin; B Boots, K O'Malley, T Meline; G Halden, J King, G Commins; M Dryburgh, B O'Garey, L O'Callaghan; T Morton, S Howe, J Petitt, J O'Callaghan

Umpires: R Dedini, M Rowe, R Neighbour (RUA)

Other matches: Narrandera 11.4 (70) def by Collingullie-AK 19.14 (128), Turvey Park 11.6 (72) def Wagga 7.12 (54); Ganmain-GGM 16.8 (104) def Mangoplah-CUE 13.10 (88); Coolamon, bye. 
Reserves: Leeton-Whitton 9.7 (61) d Griffith 8.7 (55)

Goals: T Richards 3, T Howard, B Tarr, L Poka, S McCanna, C Harrison
Under 17: Leeton-Whitton 10.11 (71) d Griffith 7.5 (47)

Goals: R Holland, L Greenaway, B Moore, C Cunial, T Argus, L Peruzzi, L Evans

AT THE BAR with Vinnie and Speedy

He came, he saw, he conquered. But Brendan Fevola’s seven-goal effort wasn’t quite good enough for the Griffith Swans, who fell in an after-the-siren heart-breaker to rivals Leeton-Whitton on Sunday. The underdone former AFL star kept up his end of the bargain, keeping the turnstiles ticking over and presenting time and time again in the forward 50. If it wasn’t for the Swans disastrous first quarter, which gave the Crows an insurmountable 39-point head start, he might have gone back to Yarrawonga a winner. Delving into it all for this week’s At The Bar are Michael “Speed” Stratton and The Area News sports editor, Vince Rugari.
Vinnie: That was my first RFL game and I was really impressed with the standard. Quality game, stiff result. But you couldn’t have asked much more of Fev.
Speedy: It’s easy enough to say he could have won the game when he missed a couple that he probably should have. But he can certainly roost a ball. He hasn’t slipped that much. The midfielders could have presented him with more of it, but that’s only my opinion and it could be wrong. 
Vinnie: I’m with you. Once they started putting it on his head instead of just in front of him, Fev started taking marks and kicking goals. There were a couple of quality one-handed grabs, which is what people came to see.
Speedy: Unfortunately, they only got tipped in the last 30 seconds. But having seen this side compared to last year, I am absolutely positive – barring injury – that they’ll make the finals, no risk.
Vinnie: Really? They’re that much improved?
Speedy: That’s what I reckon. I really believe they can make it through. I know it’s a big call and it’s early in the season but that’s how I feel. They might even go top three.
Vinnie: They should have won for sure, I know that much. Hopefully it doesn’t cost them the finals.
Speedy: That’s the bottom line. I’m not taking anything away from Leeton-Whitton, who refused to give up and just hung around, but that was Griffith’s game.
Vinnie: He had knee surgery a month ago, Fev. And he kicked 9.11 the day before for Yarrawonga. He’s never been a specimen of an athlete but he was a long way from 100 per cent fit, and he still got seven goals – in a side he knew nothing about against a mob he’d never heard of before, and all the focus was on him. It was a great effort considering. 
Speedy: He’s got that uncanny ability to know when to sit back and let the other blokes do all the hard work. I had that. It was a good weekend for the town and for the club. The result wouldn’t have pleased coach Guy Orton but I think he’d be happy with everything else. They should do this again with big players. I think it’s come to the stage where Griffith, if the committee sat down and picked the right guy, could have one every year – provided they can cover costs. (The Area News, Wednesday April 24, 2013).

Round 3 - Saturday April 27, 2013 at Griffith Exies Oval 2.10pm

Griffith ......... 5.2 .. 11.4 .. 16.8 .. 20.13 (133)
Narrandera .. 2.2 .. 4.5 .. 6.8 .. 11.10 (76)
Goals: Griffith: J Toscan 7, G Orton 4, D Crack 3, J Kennedy 2, D Peruzzi 2, M Crack, T Webb
Narrandera: A Johnston 6, J Kickett 2, N Hetherington, J Rice, M Flack
Best: Griffith: G Orton, J Toscan, R Malone, M Duncan, J Kennedy, D Peruzzi
Narrandera: J Rice, A Lawder, M Flack, A Johnston, J Kickett, N Hetherington
Griffith: R Johns, R Malone, J Taylor; T Matheson, G Snaidero, C Jenkins; T Webb, M Duncan, T West; J Kennedy, M Hogan, D Moysey; K Duncan, J Toscan, D Crack; L Poka*, G Orton (c-c), M Crack; D Peruzzi, S McCanna*, A Cappello, D Catanzariti

Narrandera: G Currie, J Hillman, R Burden; S Quilter, D Burden, S Light; S Gehringer, J Rice, C Kickett; J Vearing, N Hetherington, J Kickett; A Lee, A Johnson, T Orme; P Aumann, A Lawder, M Flack; N Halden, D Choy, D Hardy, M Morrice

Umpires: L Olsen, R Neighbour (RUA)

Other matches: 25/4 Wagga 12.20 (92 def Collingullie-AK 12.11 (83); 27/4 Ganmain-GGM 18.19 (187) def Turvey Park 7.3 (45), Mangoplah-CUE 4.12 (36) def by Coolamon 11.8 (74); Leeton-Whitton, bye.

Reserves: Griffith 17.11 (113) v Narrandera 2.2 (14)

Goals: T Howard 4, J Hampel 3, J Wade 3, T Richards 2, J Gastin 2, L Peruzzi 2, D Dunbar
Under 17: Griffith 18.12 (120) v Narrandera 2.3 (15)

Goals: B Lewis 3, B Moore 3, T Gilmore 2, T Polkinghorne 2, C Cunial 2, C Matheson 2, J Harrison, L Greenaway, R Holland, J Foley

Match report: Last week he was playing second fiddle to an AFL great – but on Saturday, James Toscan relished his return to centre stage as Griffith belted Narrandera by 57 points at Exies Oval. In a note-perfect response to a shattering after-the-siren loss to Leeton-Whitton one week ago, the Swans returned to form with a brilliant four-quarter effort against the reigning RFL premiers. With Brendan Fevola’s one-off game over and done with, Toscan stepped back into the goal-square and arguable bettered the output of the former Carlton and Brisbane forward against the Crows. 
Toscans booted seven goals on Saturday – the same amount as Fevola last week, only this time Griffith started with a bang and ended the match the exact same way, winning 20.13 (133) to 11.10 (76). “I heard a comment during the week that if Fev wasn’t here we would have definitely lost last week. I don’t believe that’s true,” captain-coach Guy Orton said. “Tosco’s our full-forward and he’s a bloody good one at that. He was awesome – it was exactly how a forward should be playing.” The Swans’ backline was also singled out fro praise by Orton, who labelled the performance “sensational” and said it was precisely what he wanted in the wake of the Crows heart-breaker. “The boys were pretty hungry. We haven’t really run over the top of sides in my time here, so it’s been good to come out and belt them that much,” he said.
The victory was set up with an 11-goal first half and then confirmed with a short burst of scoring in the third quarter that put the result beyond doubt. And the Swans did it with four key players – Jonathan Gastin, Jack Tyrell, James Fallon and Joel Gordon – all sidelined. Rugby league convert Lance Poka and former basketballer Steve McCanna came into the side and rotated through the ruck admirably on debut. “That’s Poks third game of football and now he’s in the seniors. He’s an intimidator. He’s made the transition really well and so have the others,” Orton said. 
In a thoroughly successful day for the Swans, the club’s three other grades also got up to complete a clean sweep of wins over Narrandera. The only sour point was an ankle injury to Kris Duncan, who could now be out for several weeks with ligament damage sustained in the first quarter. “Luckily we’ve got a lot of small forwards who can fill that role,” Orton said. (By Vince Rugari – The Area News, Monday April 29, 2013). 

Round 4 - Saturday May 4, 2013

Griffith bye

Other matches: Leeton-Whitton 8.14 (62) def by Mangoplah-CUE 11.5 (71), Narrandera 10.11 (71) def Turvey Park 7.13 (55), Wagga 10.9 (69) def by Ganmain-GGM 11.7 (73); Coolamon 15.7 (97) def by Collingullie-AK 13.13 (91).

Under 17: Temora 24.14 (158) d Griffith 4.3 (27) at Langtry Oval, Marrar

Goals: Temora: D Leary 6, J Irvine 5, R Krause 4, H Philp 4, A Cattle 2, G Derrick, J Gerhard, B Heinjus

Griffith: J Burley, J Foley, J Gordon, B Lewis

Best: Temora: J Irvine, D Leary, B Heinjus, J Thompson, S Turner, H Philp

Griffith: C Cunial, P McMahon, J Foley, R Holland, D Peruzzi, A McRae

Umpire: S Lewis

Griffith: Joshua Foley, Kieran Ruyg, Liam Greenaway, Luke Peruzzi, Brayden Walker, Daniel Peruzzi, Riley Holland, Mathew Peruzzi, Patrick McMahon, Ben Lewis, Andy McRae, John Reitano, Bradley Moore, Daniel Richens (c), Joel Harrison, Hugo Diaz, Charlie Cunial, Connor Matheson, Tyler Gilmore, James Thornton, Dean Villata, Joel Gordon, Luke Docherty, Jordon Burley, Todd Argus

Round 5 - Saturday May 11, 2013 at Griffith Exies Oval 2.10pm

Griffith ............... 2.4 .. 3.4 .. 9.7 .. 11.14 (80)
Wagga Tigers .... 2.1 .. 7.9 .. 10.13 .. 12.16 (88)
Goals: Griffith: D Crack 3, J Toscan 2, J Kennedy 2, J Fallon, D Moysey, D Catanzariti, D Peruzzi
Wagga: J Maslin 3, E Lindon 2, J Buchanan 2, S Armstrong, B Graham, D Papworth, M King, J Carroll
Best: Griffith: J Toscan, R Malone, M Duncan, T Matheson, G Orton, L Poka
Wagga: J Anstee, M Pryde, B Graham, M Rava, J Carroll, M Noonan
Griffith: R Johns, R Malone, J Taylor; J Gastin, G Snaidero, C Jenkins; D Peruzzi, M Duncan, T West; T Matheson, M Hogan, J Kennedy; A Cappello, J Toscan, D Crack; L Poka, G Orton (c-c), J Fallon; J Tyrell, S McCanna, D Moysey, D Catanzariti

Wagga Tigers: P Noonan, M Noonan, L McGregor; M Pryde, J Anstee, J Simpson, J Maslin, M Rava, M O'Neill; T Power, T Lindon, N Ryan; J Buchanan, M King, J Carroll; B Graham, S Flanigan, J Kew; D Papworth, G Scott, L Gregurke, S Armstrong

Umpires: R Johnston, P Smith (RUA)

Other matches: Collingullie-AK 18.11 (119) def Leeton-Whitton 14.7 (91), Narrandera 8.3 (51) def by Coolamon 17.23 (125), Turvey Park 10.13 (73) def by Mangoplah-CUE 13.13 (91); Ganmain-GGM, bye.

Reserves: Griffith 8.5 (53) v Wagga Tigers 14.16 (100)

Goals: T Richards 3, T Howard 2, C Harrison, D Spratt, C Boye
Under 17: Griffith 7.5 (47) v Wagga Tigers 19.12 (126)

Goals: K Ruyg 3, C Matheson 3, J Burley

Match report: The Griffith Swans staged their second massive comeback of the season on Saturday but again it wasn’t enough to push them over the line. The local side went down to Wagga Tigers by eight points, suffering their second defeat of the season despite surging in the second half. Playing at home, they won the first term but let the game slip in the second, scoring only one goal to Wagga’s five. A critical pep-talk at the half-time break gave the Swans the drive needed to redeem themselves and they stormed back on the field to kick six goals in the third. The Swans’ hard work played off when they drew level in the final term, then pulled ahead by three points. But Wagga had a little something left up their sleeves and were able to kick two answering goals to grasp victory. 
“I’m disappointed that we had a lapse in the second quarter and couldn’t take a win from that one,” Griffith coach Guy Orton said. “That second quarter really hurt us; we didn’t take our opportunities when we had them and we just weren’t playing to our game plan. “Our third and fourth quarters were really good but you just can’t have lapses against a good side like that. “We allowed then to dictate terms far too much.”
Despite the loss, Orton said the Swans would take a lot of positives from the game. James Fallon kicked a goal in his return for the Swans and along with teammates Jono Gastin and Brandon Mathews, gave the side a boost of experience. Daniel Peruzzi, Tim Matheson and James Toscan were standout performers and former rugby league player Lance Poka chipped in manfully with his competitive spirit and instinct. “Lance is just loving getting out on the field with us and he has slotted in nicely,” Orton said. “To have someone like him in the side gets the blokes talking a lot more on the field and gives us a bit of an edge in terms of a competitive attitude.” Dean Crack was the top goalscorer with a solid hat-trick. Orton was pleased with the teams progress at this early stage of the competition. “We will go back and tweak a few things now so if this situation comes back later in the season we will be able to hold on right to the end and win the closer games.” (By Melody Montague – The Area News, Monday May 13, 2013).

Round 6 - Saturday May 18, 2013 at Crossroads Oval 2.10pm

Collingullie-AK ... 5.8 .. 10.11 .. 17.13 .. 23.18 (156)
Griffith ................. 1.1 .. 2.2 .. 4.4 .. 7.6 (48)
Goals: CAK: M Geppart 7, C Gordon 3, B Aiken 2, C Allen 2, J Klemke 2, S Gow 2, J Meiselbach, J Wild, C Vearing, C Gow
Griffith: T Richards 2, D Peruzzi 2, J Kennedy, B Mathews, M Duncan
Best: CAK: J Meiselbach, C Jackson, C Vearing, D Kennedy, C Gow, M Beckmans
Griffith: M Duncan, G Orton, J Gastin, D Peruzzi, T Matheson, R Malone

Collingullie-Ashmont-Kapooka: K Sykes, G Spriggs, M Lewington; C Gow, W Haines, J Egan; D Kennedy, M Beckmans, S Gow; B Aiken, J Meisselbeck, J Wild; B MacKenzie, M Geppert, S Gow; C Jackson, C Gordon, C Allen; M Kennedy, M Perryman, N Fuller, J Kemke
Griffith: R Johns, R Malone, D Catanzariti; J Gastin, J Taylor, C Jenkins; T West, M Duncan, D Peruzzi; T Matheson, B Mathews, J Kennedy; M Hogan, T Richards*, D Crack; L Poka, G Orton (c-c), G Snaidero; B Tarr*, S McCanna, A Cappello, R Holland*

Umpires: B Robinson, R Dedini (RUA)

Other matches: Mangoplah-CUE 15.14 (104) def Narrandera 11.9 (75); Ganmain-GGM 14.10 (94) def Leeton-Whitton 9.5 (59), Coolamon 18.17 (125) def Turvey Park 8.8 (56); Wagga, bye.
Reserves: Collingullie-AK 12.16 (88) v Griffith 7.5 (47)

Goals: E Murphy 2, D Dunbar 2, J Hampel, J Gordon, D Cassidy
Under 17: Collingullie-AK 16.10 (106) v Griffith 9.1 (55)

Goals: B Moore 4, L Peruzzi 2, R Holland, J Gordon, B Testoni

Match report: It’s hard to know what to say to your team when they’ve just lost by more than 100 points. Griffith Swans coach Guy Orton found himself speechless when addressing his boys after their devastating loss to Collingullie-Ashmont-Kapooka on Saturday afternoon. It was the side’s third loss of the season but the others – to Leeton-Whitton and Wagga Tigers – had been by less than 10 points. This time, the margin was 108. “What can you say? We just didn’t play well,” Orton said to The Area News yesterday. “It was a bad day and I’m not going to bring it up to the boys again. “We’re just going to move on.” 
The Swans took a less-than-perfect side to Collingullie, missing James Toscan through injury and James Fallon, who was sick. But Orton was not using excuses. “It’s just wasn’t our day,” he said. “We were a fair bit down at quarter-time and we came back a bit but it was nowhere near enough. “They always play their ground well and we didn’t. “There’s not much we can learn from the game but it brought us back to reality.” 
CAK got off to a roaring start in the match, kicking 5.8 to Griffith’s 1.1 in the first quarter. They piled on another five goals in the second term to give themselves a 57-point lead at half time. The carnage continued into the second half, with CAK booting another 13 goals and the Swans only managed five. “They just smashed us in the last quarter,” Orton said. “I’m am obviously disappointed but I’m not going to worry about it. “We’ll just pick ourselves up and keep going.” (By Melody Montague – The Area News, Monday May 20, 2013).

 GRIFFITH WELL REPRESENTED IN RFL REP SQUAD – By Melody Montague 

A 16 year old is among six Griffith players selected for the Riverina Football League representative squad released on Friday night. The 44-man squad will undergo three training sessions before it is culled to 22 players for the match against Sydney under 23s in Wagga on June 9. Griffith veterans Guy Orton and Mick Duncan have been named in the initial squad, alongside Richard Malone, Tim Matheson and in-form forward James Toscan. Lightning fast 16-year old Daniel Peruzzi was a surprise inclusion, joining five other youthful faces in the side.

Orton, who captained the rep side last year, was pleased but not surprised to see such a bold showing from the Swans. “Mick Duncan is always going to get a start in the rep side, for the newer guys, it’s good for their confidence and it’s good for them to have the opportunity to step up,” Orton said. “There’s are a lot of good forwards in the league so it is good to see James Toscan’s name up there; and Tim (Matheson) is playing some really good football at the moment. “He has got himself really fit and has been showing off some good skills.” Orton wasn’t where to place Malone in the Swans side this year, starting him as a forward but finding his skills better suited to the back line. He has been selected as a back in the RFL side. The Swans coach believed Peruzzi had been named in the side because of his speed. “Nobody quite knows what to expect when he’s on the field,’ Orton said. “He’s so quick; he just turns players inside out.” The Area News, Monday May 20, 2013)..

Round 7 - Sunday May 26, 2013 (Pink Day) at Griffith Exies Oval 2.10pm

Griffith ......... 0.3 .. 0.5 .. 3.6 .. 3.7 (25)
Coolamon .... 2.3 .. 5.5 .. 9.6 .. 15.11 (101)
Goals: Griffith: J Kennedy, C Harrison, T Richards
Coolamon: M O'Brien 4, S Robinson 3, Mitch Stephenson 2, B Fixter 2, L Maloney 2, T Owens, C Neyland
Best: Griffith: G Snaidero, G Orton, M Duncan, T West, T Richards, R Holland
Coolamon: Mitch Stephenson, L Maloney, A Rogers, J Maddox, L Roberts, Z Robinson
Griffith: R Johns, G Snaidero, C Niven; J Gastin, J Taylor, C Jenkins; B Tarr, M Duncan, T West; D Crack, J Toscan, J Kennedy; J Fallon, T Richards, D Peruzzi; L Poka, G Orton (c-c), T Matheson; C Harrison, A Cappello, S McCanna, R Holland

Coolamon: A Rogers, Murray Stephenson, A McKenzie; J Wiggers, C Neyland, Mitch Stephenson; J Rapley, R Chamberlain, H Bradley; B Fixter, M O'Brien, Z Robinson; L Roberts, T Owens, L Maloney; B Edyvean, G Aki, J Maddox; H Leary, S Robinson, M Macauley, M Crawford

Umpires: B Robinson, J Hilton, P Hughes (RUA)

Note: A minute's silence was held in remembrance of Swans stalwart Mary Collins.

Other matches: Leeton-Whitton 19.18 (132) def Turvey Park 6.6 (42); Narrandera 16.10 (106) def Ganmain-GGM 10.10 (70), Wagga 9.16 (70) def Mangoplah-CUE 9.12 (66); Collingullie-AK, bye.
Reserves: Coolamon 16.8 (104) d Griffith 8.5 (53)

Goals: T Howard 2, T Shannon 2, J Wade 2, N Witherspoon, D Cassidy
Under 17: Griffith 13.10 (88) d Coolamon 10.7 (67)

Goals: B Moore 3, L Docherty 2, B Lewis 2, J Harrison, J Burley, D Villata, P McMahon, J Gordon, K Ruyg

Match report: The Griffith Swans may have been out of their iconic colours yesterday but that didn’t stop them fighting to the bitter end. In the annual fundraising match for Griffith Breast Cancer Support Group, the pink-clad Swans played doggedly but were outclassed by ladder- leaders Coolamon to the tune of 76 points. The scoreline gave the indication of the Swans’ display of skills through the middle of the ground but focused instead on their inability to capitalise on their hard work.
Griffith put its first points on the board early in the first quarter but failed to kick a goal until after half-time. James Fallon’s return from illness was felt early and Tim Matheson was right in the mix as the Swans put on a show of strong marking and solid passing, but small mistakes were costly against the stampeding Hoppers. At half-time, both teams had kicked five points but Coolamon also had five goals to its name. Griffith’s first goal came in the first 10 minutes of the second half and Coolamon was quick to reply. All three of the Swans majors came in the third quarter. 
A first-class rev-up from captain coach Guy Orton at the last break had the Swans convinced they could come back from 36 points down and they played like they expected to win for the first 10 minutes. But the bubble was deflated when Coolamon booted three consecutive goals and suddenly there was no coming back.
It was Griffith’s second hefty loss in a row and Orton was struggling to find a reason for the side’s sudden downturn. “It’s hard to put it down to anything – there is no one big error or problem that we can see,” he said. “I spoke about belief in the group when they came in at half-time because scoring five points and keeping them to five goals and is, in a sense, a win for us. “There are just little things we have to tweak here and there and it might take us a couple of games to get those things sorted out.” Orton thanked Swans fans for attending the game yesterday and supporting the breast cancer cause. (By Melody Montague -The Area News, Monday May 27, 2013).

Round 8 - Sunday June 2, 2013 at Ganmain Sportsground 2.10pm

Ganmain-GGM ... 3.2 .. 6.9 .. 12.13 .. 17.16 (118)
Griffith ................. 2.2 .. 3.3 .. 5.6 .. 8.7 (55)
Goals: GGGM: J Conway 3, D Hitchens 2, A Jusup 2, L Steward 2, C Steele 2, P Lucas, D Karlberg, B Walsh, L Kohlhagen, J Kotzur, N Irvine
Griffith: J Toscan 3, J Kennedy 2, G Orton, D Crack, M Duncan
Best: GGGM: L Kohlhagen, J Olsson, L Steward, B Walsh, L Walsh, N Kember
Griffith: J Kennedy, J Toscan, G Orton, B Tarr, T Matheson, D Crack

Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong: A Roberts, B Walsh, P Lucas; S Hatty, N Kember, L Walsh; C Steele, J Kotzur (c-c), B McKinnon; N McPherson, D Walsh, L Steward; N Irvine, J Conway, A Jusup; J Olsson, S Crozier, L Kohlhagen; D Hitchens, D Karlberg, P Walsh, J Evans
Griffith: D Catanzariti, G Snaidero, J Taylor; T West, C Niven, J Gastin; D Peruzzi, M Duncan, B Tarr; T Matheson, J Toscan, J Kennedy; C Harrison, T Richards, D Crack; L Poka, G Orton (c-c), J Fallon; A Cappello, S McCanna, R Holland, J Tyndall

Umpires: P Smith, T Beard, S Wemyss (RUA)

Other matches: Coolamon 8.9 (57) def Leeton-Whitton 2.3 (15), Mangoplah-CUE 5.12 (42) def by Collingullie-AK 14.4 (88), Wagga 16.12 (108) def Narrandera 4.6 (30); Turvey Park, bye.

Reserves: Griffith 9.7 (61) d Ganmain-GGM 8.5 (53)

Goals: J Evans 5, C Lugton, C Cunial, D Dunbar, M Hogan
Under 17: Griffith 15.17 (107) d Ganmain-GGM 2.6 (18)

Goals: B Moore 3, C Cunial 3, J Burley 2, K Ruyg 2, L Docherty 2, M Peruzzi 2, L Greenaway

Match report: A wet Ganmain Sportsground provided the perfect environment for the Griffith Swans yesterday but it wasn’t enough for them to get close to the in-form home side. The Swans suffered their third demoralising loss in as many weeks when Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong played over the top of them and stormed home by 63 points. The Griffith boys were only one goal down at the first break but GGGM outscored them heavily in each of the remaining terms. “I was happy with how the boys played – they really fought hard as much as they could,” Swans coach said. “The score is what it is but it’s always a battle to go out there and play on there home ground. “We’re a pretty small team and wet weather football really suits us nicely because we’re really up and under sort of side – so we did have a good shot at it.” 
A week off is about to give the Swans a chance to regroup, but Orton said little could be done about the biggest problem – an ever-changing line-up. “It’s been pretty hard three weeks with the boys – its hard to play consistent football when you’re changing the team week-by-week,” he said. ‘Each of the boys knows his role but the other players around him haven’t had a chance to learn what he’s likely to do next or which way he’s going to go. “When guys play together every week, they just about know what the other players’ next thought is and that’s when good teams really do well.”Many changes are to come in the next few weeks, with Andrew Cappello and Steven McCanna heading overseas and a handful of players still out with injury. But, outside the team structure issue, Orton was pleased with his side’s progress and believed they would come back stronger after the break. (By Melody Montague – The Area News, Monday June 3, 2013).  

Representative - Sunday June 9, 2013 at Robertson Oval
Riverina FL ............................. 5.3 .. 7.3 .. 10.6 .. 14.10 (94)
Sydney FL Development .... 3.4 .. 9.7 .. 10.9 .. 13.11 (89)
Goals: RFL: M Geppert 3, L Roberts 2, C Gordon 2, C Steele, J Kotzur, J Maddox, J Olsson, Mitch Stevenson, G Orton, J Rice
SFL: T Cummins 2, J Zoppo 2, P Green 2, P Sain 2, M Thomas, J Pascoe, J Pidgeon, J Ayling, C Kennedy
Best: RFL: J Rice, J Kotzur, J Maddox, C Steele, L Roberts, Murray Stephenson
SFL: B Guthrie, S Brierty, A Robertson, H Koch, J Pascoe, T Cummins
Umpires: S Wemyss, T Beard (RUA), B Dean (SUA)
Riverina FL: John Simpson, Murray Stephenson, Matthew Noonan; Mitch Stephenson, John Anstee, Ben Absolum; Shaun Flanigan, Guy Orton (c), Daniel Kennedy; Curtis Steele, Lew Roberts, Mitch O'Brien; Jayden Kotzur, Marc Geppert, Ryan Price; Jacob Olsson, Jamie Maddox, Chris Gordon; Jim Rice, Evan Smith, Guy Ward, Jock Cornell. Coach: Troy Maiden
Sydney FL Devlopment Squad: Jordan Pidgeon, Adam Cook, Joshua Zoppo; Mitchell Hogan, James Pascoe, Harrison Koch; Stuart Brierty, Anthony Robertson, Ben Jones; Matt Thomas (c), James Brackin, Josiah Ayling; Paul Green, Timothy Cummins, Marcus Linsen; Paul Sain, Blake Guthrie, James Clarke; Callum Kennedy, David Lycakis, Matthew Young, Adam Byrne. Coach: Chris Hughes

Round 9 - Saturday June 15, 2013 at Mangoplah Sportsground 2.10pm

Mangoplah-CUE ... 5.2 .. 7.4 .. 10.8 .. 10.12 (72)
Griffith ................... 2.3 .. 5.5 .. 7.5 .. 9.7 (61)
Goals: MCUE: D Ward 2, R Cohalan 2, I Damme 2, H Collins, R Price, J Creasy, H Himmelberg
Griffith: D Crack 3, T Richards 3, J Toscan, M Duncan, J Evans
Best: MCUE: A Dickens, D Ward, J Creasy, D Jones, H Lloyd, R Price
Griffith: C Jenkins, D Crack, G Snaidero, J Fallon, M Duncan, J Gastin

Mangoplah-Cookardinia Utd-Eastlakes: J Millar, M Roberson, J Killalea; S Creasy, H Lloyd, T Keogh; J Collins, J Creasy, D Jones; P Killalea, H Collins, R Price; I Damme, R Cohalan, D Ward; A Dickens, G Ward, Trent Cohalan; J Phillips, M Collins, S Burge, H Himmelberg
Griffith: B McRae, C Niven, T West; J Gastin, J Taylor, C Jenkins; B Tarr, G Snaidero, D Peruzzi; J Kennedy, J Toscan, J Fallon; A Cappello, T Richards, D Crack; L Poka, G Orton (c-c), M Duncan; J Evans, J Gordon, C Harrison, R Holland

Umpires: R Wilson, P O'Donaghue, A Touvi (RUA)

Other matches: Ganmain-GGM 7.14 (56) def by Coolamon 9.7 (61), Turvey Park 6.3 (39) def by Collingullie-AK 21.17 (143), Wagga 13.9 (87) def Leeton-Whitton 13.5 (83); Narrandera , bye.

Reserves: Mangoplah-CUE 16.12 (108) d Griffith 6.4 (40)

Goals: C Cunial 3, B Evans, T Shannon, K Hume
Under 17: Mangoplah-CUE 21.9 (135) d Griffith 3.4 (22)

Goals: K Ruyg 2, M Peruzzi

Match report: Finals football is looking further and further away for the Griffith Swans but coach Guy Orton is refusing to give up on his unstable side. The Swans lost another close contest to Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes on Saturday, coming back from five goals down only to fall short by 11 points. Injuries have plagued the Swans this season and they have been unable to to settle enough to continue the good form they showed at the beginning of the year. An ankle injury to James Kennedy in Saturday’s match will make it even harder for the side to lift from eight position on the Riverina Football League ladder. “It doesn’t look like we’re going to get any of our key players back anytime soon and James Kennedy is another key player we really can’t do without,” Orton said. “We’ve just got to keep moving forward with the players we have and try to get a few wins on the board to finish off our season.
While it is only halfway through the season, the Swans will have to pick up a string of victories to get near the front-runners, with Coolamon already six wins ahead of them. But Orton has his eye on the prize. “I don’t don’t want to rule anything out – we are certainly not at a point where we’re saying we should start to look forward towards building for next year,” Orton said. “I want to play finals football and I will keep pushing the boys towards that. “We’d actually be sitting quite pretty now if we’d won the games we lost by six or eight points, so we are really not that far behind.” 
But there were good signs for the side in Mangoplah on Saturday that will fuel them into the next round against Turvey Park. Despite being down all day, they fought back hard in the final quarter to far outscore their opponents, keeping Mangoplah to only four points for the term. “We’ve just got to keep trying and sticking together there is something there that’s just got to click and then we’ll be on our way,” Orton said. (By Melody Montague – The Area News, June 17, 2013).   

Round 10 - Saturday June 22, 2013 at Griffith Exies Oval 2.10pm

Griffith ........... 1.5 .. 4.9 .. 6.13 .. 11.16 (82)
Turvey Park .. 3.5 .. 4.7 .. 5.11 .. 11.12 (78)
Goals: Griffith: J Toscan 3, D Crack 2, T Richards, J Taylor, C Harrison, G Snaidero, J Gastin, B McRae
Turvey Park: J Ashcroft 2, M Ness 2, A Hill, J Leahy, T Marlow, A Emery, M Francis, J Donaldson, J Cunningham
Best: Griffith: J Taylor, M Duncan, D Crack, C Jenkins, G Orton, J Toscan
Turvey Park: J Fletcher, D Toose, E Smith, V Winnel, J Ashcroft, M Ness
Griffith: T West, D Catanzariti, C Niven; J Gastin, J Taylor, C Jenkins; T Matheson, G Snaidero, R Holland; J Fallon, J Toscan, M Peruzzi*; A Cappello, T Richards, D Crack; J Gordon, G Orton (c-c), M Duncan; C Harrison, D Dunbar*, B McRae, J Tyndall

Turvey Park: V Winnell, J Fletcher, L Macrae; H Dore, W Carroll, Z Masterson; Matt Ness, D Toose, T Rowley; B Bryce, T Marlow, J Cunningham; A Emery, J Donaldson, J Ashcroft; E Smith, C Cerato (c-c), T Kenny; J Leahy, A Hill, M Francis, T Hampton

Umpires: R Neighbour, S Wemyss (RUA)

Other matches: Narrandera 10.8 (68) def by Leeton-Whitton 13.12 (90), Wagga 3.6 (24) def by Coolamon 7.10 (52); Ganmain-GGM 15.11 (101) def Collingullie-AK 11.10 (76); Mangoplah-CUE, bye.

Reserves: Griffith 10.10 (70) d Turvey Park 7.7 (49)

Goals: J Wade 5, R Simpkin, T Shannon, N Witherspoon, K Ruyg, D Moysey
Under 17: Griffith d North Wagga on forfeit

Match report: Eight points down and with four minutes left on the clock, the Griffith Swans were not going to let this opportunity against Turvey Park slip away. The RFL strugglers held their heads high, gathered every once of strength they could find and took control of Saturday’s match at Exies Oval. A stunned Turvey Park were left scrounging to hold onto their lead as the Swans’ Dean Crack sent a goal sailing over the heads, cutting the margin to two points. Barely 30 seconds remained. Time seemed to stand still as the bounce went Griffith’s way and suddenly James Toscan was reaching up to take a miracle mark 45 metres out. A boot and ball connected, the siren sounded. The nervous crowd, complete with 20 players from the 2003 Swans’ premiership side, held its collective breath as the ball soared through the middle of the goal-posts.  Toscan’s extraordinary goal sealed his side’s first win in six matches. Partly because it had been so long, partly because the legends were there for the premiership anniversary, but mostly because to had been so close – the celebration was one of pure exhilaration. 
Swans coach Guy Orton said it had been a long time since he had heard the team song echo so loudly around the rooms. “We have lost for so many weeks and to have a good close win really brought us together,” Orton said. “It wouldn’t have been the same if we had won by 40 points. “Everyone dug deep in the last four minutes – they made the decision they weren’t going to lose this one and they went out there and never gave up.” It was the Swans‘ first win since the Anzac Day round. 
But ever since the losses started to pile up, Orton said he had changed the team’s focus from finals aspirations to week-by-week mentality. “I’m not saying we’re not going to make it but we’re just not going to look that far ahead,” he said. “We had a plan to win one of our next two games, which we’ve already done, so now we’ll look a the next two and focus on winning one of them.” 
Griffith defender James Taylor won best on ground in a standout performance – his best since switching codes from Yoogali SC last year. Youngster Matthew Peruzzi, who only last year was playing under 15s, impressed in his first hit-out for the senior side, as did Tom West. The only injury was a suspected concussion to Riley Holland following a knock to the head. (By Melody Montague – The Area News, Monday June 24, 2013). 

Round 11 - Saturday June 29, 2013 at Leeton Showground 2.10pm

Leeton-Whitton ... 3.2 .. 4.7 .. 10.10 .. 15.12 (102)

Griffith .................. 2.2 .. 5.7 .. 6.7 .. 7.10 (52)

Goals: Leeton-Whitton: L O'Callaghan 4, W Overs 3, B O'Garey 2, G Commins, C Garvey, G Lee, J King, B Boots, K O'Malley

Griffith: G Orton 2, M Duncan 2, T Richards, J Fallon, D Dunbar

Best: Leeton-Whitton: W Overs, C Garvey, T Meline, G Lee, T Morton, S Browning

Griffith: J Taylor, T West, J Fallon, M Duncan, G Orton, C Harrison

Leeton-Whitton: S Browning, C Townsend, T Morton; J Spina, W Overs, M Irvin; J Gornall, B Curley, T Meline; B Boots, K O'Malley, J Pettitt; G Commins, C Garvey, L O'Callaghan; J King, B O'Garey, M Gaynor; G Halden, G Lee, D Sullivan, S Howe

Griffith: T West, L Poka, C Niven; J Fallon, J Taylor, C Jenkins; C Harrison, G Snaidero, T Matheson; J Gastin, J Toscan, A Cappello; B McRae, T Richards, D Crack; J Gordon, G Orton (c-c), M Duncan; D Moysey, D Dunbar, M Peruzzi, D Catanzariti

Umpires: B Robinson, P Smith, A Touvi (RUA)

Other matches: Collingullie-AK 20.14 (134) def Narrandera 9.8 (62), Mangoplah-CUE 14.6 (90) def by Ganmain-GGM 16.7 (103), Wagga 17.28 (130) def Turvey Park 4.7 (31); Coolamom, bye. 

Reserves: Griffith 10.10 (70) d Leeton-Whitton 6.4 (40)

Goals: T Shannon 3, B Tarr 3, N Witherspoon, K Farrell, K Ruyg, M Hogan

Under 17: Leeton-Whitton 16.14 (110) d Griffith 2.5 (17)

Goals: B Moore, B Lewis

Match report: For half a game of football, the Griffith Swans looked like they were back. At Leeton on Saturday they had a fast-moving midfield, solid defence – and even showcased their aggression with captain-coach Guy Orton sent off for his part in a melee halfway through the second quarter. At the main break, the Swans were a goal up. But the atmosphere changed early in the second half when the Crows came out ready to play hard-ball. The home side piled on 11 goals from there, keeping Griffith to a dismal two and winning the match by 50 points. “We were playing some really, really good football but I think we just got a bit too far ahead of ourselves,” Orton said. “They (Leeton-Whitton) obviously stepped up a notch in the second half and we just couldn’t complete with it. “(The Swans) did everything I asked of the from the start, which just shows they’re getting a bit of belief back, and they are right to be disappointed with how it ended.” 
Adding to Griffith woes, utility Che Jenkins went down with an ankle injury as he went for a spoil and landed awkwardly. It is yet    to be determined whether the ankle is broken or fractured. Despite the possibility of losing one of his most prolific players, Orton took it all in his stride. “I’m getting used to losing players each week,” he said. “It’s just one of those things. “It will open up another door for someone else to come along and have a go at senior football.” 
The Swans’ biggest downfall on Saturday was their delivery to their forwards, an area of play Orton will continue to focus on in training. Good decision-making will also be on the training agenda. Orton said the match felt much closer than the scoreboard suggested. “It didn’t feel like we lost by that much; the game was quite physical right to the end,” he said. “We seemed to have a lot of footy and I think most of their goals came from turnovers. “The important thing for the boys to take away from the game is that two quarters of football is not enough to win.” Orton named James Taylor and Tom West as standouts for the second week in a row. (By Melody Montague – The Area News, Monday July 1, 2013).

 RICHARDS GOES FROM DOGHOUSE TO SWANS’ NEST - By Vince Rugari 

WHOEVER said you can’t teach an old dog new tricks clearly hasn’t met Trevor Richards. The Yenda Bluheeler legend may have called time on his rugby league career ant the end of last season, but he has found a new lease of life since swapping the Steeden for the Sherrin and joining the Griffith Swans. The former prop, who turned 40 at the start of the year, only switched codes to keep fit and never had any intention of playing first-grade football. But the Swans injury crisis and familiarity with the game, following his Australian rules flirtation in his junior years – has seen him quickly become one of the club’s most important players this season.

Richards has kicked eight goals in six games for Griffith’s RFL side and has only been held scoreless once. And despite his advancing years, he has every intention of playing on next season- so long as his body lets him. “I had no plans at all. It was just a case of wanting to stay fit,” he said. “After running around and training for the last 30 years, to give it up cold...if I kept eating and drinking I’d end up the size of a house. “Part of it was that I wanted to test myself as well, to see if I could still do it. “But once the injuries started to pile up, Guy Orton asked me if I wanted to play in the ones. I said if you need me, I’ll do what you want me to.”  
Richards’ presence up forward has been a godsend for the struggling Swans, given a host of key experienced players have been struck down by the club’s ongoing injury curse. It has given him an opportunity to revisit a code in which many of his closest friends still say he could have dominated had he not opted to give it up in favour of rugby league as a 19-year old. He went on to become one of Yenda’s all-time greatest players and one of the mot respected figures in Group 20. “Footy’s, footy, regardless of the code,” he said. “You get the boys around and I’ve enjoyed it, it’s a really good bunch of guys at the Swannies. “I’ve played rugby league since I was eight, I love it and I still do. Whenever I get a chance I’ll still go to watch Yenda. “I actually trained a couple of times in the pre-season and Roy (Romeo, coach) kept telling me I’ve got one more year left in me. “I knew if I stayed there I would have ended up playing, but I’d bashed myself around in rugby league for long enough that I knew it was time to give it a rest.”
Yenda’s loss has been the Swans’ gain, with captain-coach Guy Orton glowing in his endorsement of Richards and the rest of the club’s reserves who have stepped to fill numerous gaps in the side.  “It’s a tribute to our culture that even though we’re struggling, people are still putting their hands up and wanting to play,” he said. “Everyone understands if you get the call-up, you put on the guernsey and you give 110 percent. Everyone is on the same page.”
Richards will line up again at full-forward tomorrow for the Swans’ away trip to reigning premiers Narrandera. Che Jenkins (ankle) and Andrew Cappello (away) are both out of the side, making the club’s unlikely finals mission even tougher. Not that Richards minds. “I hate losing, don’t get me wrong...but I’m just loving the fact that I’m still out there and able to do it.” he said. “We must have an injury count in the high teens but with a little bit of luck for the rest of the year, we can string a few wins together and we might go OK. “But if we can keep these guys together, over the next couple of years we could be really competitive. “Barring any major injuries I’d love to play again next year.” (The Area News, Friday July 5, 2013). 

Round 12 - Saturday July 6, 2013 at Narrandera Sportsground 2.10pm

Narrandera ... 1.3 .. 4.7 .. 6.8 .. 9.11 (65)

Griffith ........... 6.2 .. 8.5 .. 11.7 .. 11.12 (78)

Goals: Narrandera: K Masters 2, N Hetherington 2, T Orme, Z Litchfield, P Aumann, A Lee, D Kenna

Griffith: T West 2, D Peruzzi 2, D Moysey 2, A Blissett, M Duncan, G Orton, J Toscan, T Richards

Best: Narrandera: K Masters, M Flack, J Kickett, A Lawder, L Paterson, J Rice

Griffith: M Duncan, J Fallon, H Delves, J Gastin, A Blissett, D Moysey

Narrandera: S Quilter, J Doyle, A Lee; R Burden, J Vearing, L Paterson; T Orme, J Rice, T Webster; N Hetherington, K Masters, J Kickett; Z Litchfield, A Johnston, M Flack; P Aumann, A Lawder, G Currie; D Kenna, D Hardy, N Halden, M Rice

Griffith: B McRae, G Snaidero, D Crack; J Gastin, J Taylor, J Fallon; C Harrison, M Duncan, M Peruzzi; T Shannon*, J Toscan, T Matheson; T West, T Richards, D Peruzzi; H Delves, G Orton (c-c), A Blissett; L Poka, D Moysey, B Tarr, J Tyndall

Umpires: P O'Donaghue, A Touvi (RUA)

Other matches: Collingullie-AK 12.8 (80) def Wagga 8.8 (56), Turvey Park 5.3 (33) def by Ganmain-GGM 15.17 (107); Coolamon 12.9 (81) def Mangoplah-CUE 10.13 (73); Leeton-Whitton, bye. 

Reserves: Griffith 13.12 (90) d Narrandera 2.5 (17)

Goals: J Wade 5, M Hogan 3, C Milojevic 2, J Harris, M Robertson, J Evans

Under 17: Griffith 17.10 (112) d Narrandera 8.4 (52)

Goals: K Ruyg 5, J Burley 4, D Camm 2, L Peruzzi, B Moore, J Gordon, D Richens, L Shannon, H Diaz

Match report: Griffith’s faint final hopes are still alive after outgunning reigning premiers Narrandera to a 13-point win on Saturday afternoon. The Swans burst out of the blocks wit a six-goal first quarter, setting up the valuable 11.12 (78) to 9.11 (65) triumph at the spacious Narrandera Sportsground. While the side’s experienced brigade fired it was the next generation that stole the show, with the likes of Tom West and Daniel Peruzzi taking full advantage of the wide expanses on offer at the Eagles ground. West and Peruzzi kicked two goals each, while Swans alumni Alex Blissett and NSW/Rams representative Henry Delves also pulled on the boots for the first time this season. While Griffith’s injury crisis has hitherto been a roadblock to results, captain-coach Guy Orton said the enthusiasm of the youngsters and the open space at Narrandera was the perfect storm. “We tried not to kick to contest – we wanted to use the space and use our legs to win the ball that way, which we did,” he said. “I don’t understand why Narrandera recruit big-bodied players. They’re fit but they want contests, they want it in-tight so they can muscle the opposition out of things, “We spoke about how to get in front early and using our youth and kicking to advantage, right out in front of space. “We didn’t want to chase them all day – we wanted to play our game on the big ground, and we did.” 
The Swans took a 29-point lead into the second term but more importantly, showed up after the long break and were in front by the exact same margin at the final change. “We broke the hoodoo of coming out and being flat after half-time,” Orton said. “It was probably only the last 10 minutes of the game that we dropped off, and that’s when they kicked away and they probably thought they had a bit of a sniff.”
Orton, Mick Duncan, James Fallon and Dan Moysey were among the best for Griffith – and their dominance allowed the growing numbers of young players to the side to come into the game. Aside from Delves, Blissett, West and Peruzzi, the likes of Ben Tarr, Matt Peruzzi, Tom Shannon and Josh Tyndall all had their moments, and the skipper said it was evidence of regeneration at the club. “They are all starting to shine because their mates are coming into the side as well,’ he said. “We’ve got experienced players out there leading by example, and then the young kids are following and doing their job. “They’ve all got it in them – that’s why they’re playing in the seniors.” (By Vince Rugari – The Area News, Monday July 8, 2013). 

Round 13 - Saturday July 13, 2013

Griffith bye

Other matches: Collingullie-AK 8.11 (59) def by Coolamon 13.4 (82); Mangoplah-CUE 12.11 (83) def Leeton-Whitton 11.8 (74), Turvey Park 14.17 (101); Ganmain-GGM 11.7 (73) def by Wagga 17.9 (111).

Under 17: Temora 14.10 (94) d Griffith 5.4 (34) at Nixon Park, Temora

Goals: Temora: A Cattle 9, R Krause 2, J Turner, T Moye, L Robertson

Griffith: B Moore 2, K Ruyg, N Richards, B Lewis

Best: Temora: P Walker, A McRae, A Cattle, M Krause, R Krause

Griffith: C Heffernan, J Burley, D Peruzzi, B Moore, M Peruzzi, D Evans

Umpire: J Shannon

Griffith: James Thornton, Dillon Evans, John Reitano; Connor Heffernan, Joel Gordon, Patrick McMahon; Dean Villata, Daniel Peruzzi, Blake Testoni; Luke Shannon, Kieran Ruyg, Luke Peruzzi; Damiel Camm, Bradley Moore, Ben Lewis; Jordon Burley, Riley Holland, Mathew Peruzzi; Hugo Diaz, Luke Docherty, Lachlan Evans, Nathan Richards

Round 14 - Saturday July 27, 2013 at Robertson Oval 2.10pm

Wagga Tigers .... 4.5 .. 7.7 .. 14.13 .. 19.19 (133)

Griffith ................ 1.1 .. 3.5 .. 3.6 .. 4.7 (31)

Goals: Wagga: J Buchanan 4, N Ryan 3, J Simpson 3, A Norton 2, M Rava 2, X Brennan 2, D Howard, L Sheppard, J Kew

Griffith: D Crack 3, G Orton

Best: Wagga: L Sheppard, P Noonan, J Simpson, S Flanigan, J Buchanan, D Papworth

Griffith: G Orton, M Duncan, J Gastin, J Fallon, G Snaidero, D Moysey

Wagga Tigers: D Papworth, M Noonan, L McGregor; L Sheppard, J Anstee, T Power (c-c); J Maslin, M Rava, S Pearce; J Buchanan, J Simpson, C Bance; M O'Neill, D Howard, X Brennan; B Graham, J Kew, S Flanigan; P Noonan, N Ryan, J Larwood, A Norton

Griffith: D Moysey, C Niven, J Keenan*; B McRae, G Snaidero, J Fallon; M Peruzzi, M Duncan, B Tarr; T West, J Toscan, D Crack; J Gastin, T Richards, D Peruzzi; J Gordon, G Orton (c-c), T Matheson; T Shannon, J Tyndall, R Holland, C Harrison

Umpires: T Beard, P Harris (RUA)

Other matches: Leeton-Whitton 6.12 (48) def by Collingullie-AK 15.18 (108), Mangoplah-CUE 16.16 (112) def Turvey Park 4.3 (27); Coolamon 22.10 (142) def Narrandera 5.14 (45); Ganmain-GGM, bye. 

Reserves: Griffith 10.9 (69) d Wagga Tigers 8.4 (52)

Goals: N Witherspoon 3, A Cappello 2, D Cassidy, J Hampel, J Wade, C. Milojevic, K Ruyg

Under 17: Wagga Tigers 18.11 (119) d Griffith 8.1 (49)

Goals: K Ruyg 4, B Moore 3, B Lewis

Match report: Griffith feint finals chances were blown out of the water on Saturday in a “depressing” 102-point thumping at the hands of the Wagga Tigers. The depleted Swans walked into an ambush at Robertson Oval, collapsing after half time as the home side piled on a whopping 12 goals to one for an easy percentage-boosting victory. The 19.19 (133) to 4.7 (31) result was the eight defeat of the season and effectively closes the door on any possibility of a late-season surge into the top five. Captain-coach Guy Orton, who was one of just a few Swans who flew the flag on the day, described the loss as one of the worst in his time at the club. “It was pretty depressing, actually,” he said. “I was a bit lost for words after the game, other than give them a spray. “There wasn’t much to say, really – we just played terrible and got done by a better side.” 
The Swans were in touch at the long break but had no answers for the Tigers’ incredible onslaught that opened the third term. The Wagga side’s 15 scoring shots to Griffith’s one for the quarter told the story. “If you get the first goal coming out of half time, you’re a chance, but when you don’t score much after half time, it’s depressing,” Orton said. “All the boys, you could see how flat they were after the game. “It just seems like their heads weren’t in it. “It’s just disappointing, the wheels have fallen off and it’s going to be hard to come back from this.” 
The usual suspects were on song for Griffith with the experienced brigade of Mick Duncan, Orton, Jono Gastin, Glen Snaidero, Dan Moysey and James Fallon all playing well. Dean Crack booted three of Griffith’s four goals, with Orton contributing the other. The skipper admitted too much was left to too few, but refused to use the club’s injury crisis as an excuse. “I said before the game that for us to win, we needed our senior players standing up, and for our kids to follow,” Orton said. “We had our normal blokes stand up but that was it. “We were never going to get back into it with five guys playing well. We needed 22.” “There’s probably a handful of players that haven’t played much senior footy and they don’t understand it, how quick it is. If we had the other guys in it could have been a different story, but we didn’t.” (By Vince Rugari – The Area News, Monday July 29, 2013).

Round 15 - Sunday August 4, 2013 at Griffith Exies Oval 2.10pm

Griffith ................. 3.0 .. 5.1 .. 7.3 .. 9.4 (58)

Collingullie-AK ... 4.5 .. 10.10 .. 17.13 .. 24.16 (160)

Goals: Griffith: B Mathews 2, D Crack 2, T Shannon 2, J Gastin 2, D Moysey

CAK: M Geppert 12, B Aiken 4, M Beckmans 2, M Kennedy 2, C Gordon, R Dean, B Absolum, C Vearing

Best: Griffith: T Matheson, J Toscan, J Gastin, M Duncan, J Fallon, B Matthews

CAK: M Geppert, M Kennedy, M Beckmans, C Gordon, C Jackson, K Sykes

Griffith: C Niven, G Snaidero, B McRae; T West, J Taylor, C Jenkins; B Tarr, M Duncan (capt), M Peruzzi; J Gastin, T Richards, D Crack; T Shannon, B Mathews, D Peruzzi; J Toscan, J Fallon, T Matheson; J Tyndall, R Holland, D Moysey, J Keenan

Collingullie-Ashmont-Kapooka: C Gow, K Sykes, M Lewington; B Absolum, N Fuller, J Egan; C Vearing, J Klemke, M Beckmans; B Aiken, M Castle, D Kennedy; M Kennedy, M Geppert, S Gow; C Jackson, C Gordon, C Allen; R Dean, N Perryman, M Cavarra, B Lenon

Umpires: R Johnston, R Dedini, R Apted (RUA)

Other matches: Leeton-Whitton 8.9 (57) def by Ganmain-GGM 11.19 (85); Narrandera 13.6 (84) def by Mangoplah-CUE 17.13 (115), Turvey Park 8.3 (51) def by Collingullie-AK 24.16 (160); Wagga, bye. 

Reserves: Collingullie-AK 13.12 (90) d Griffith 5.4 (34)

Goals: K Farrell 2, A Cappello, M Hogan, N Witherspoon

Under 17: Collingullie-AK 13.9 (87) d Griffith 6.8 (44)

Goals: M Peruzzi 2, K Ruyg, D Richens, J Gordon, B Lewis

Match report: History repeated itself in the worst way possible for the Swans yesterday. A week on from a 102-point thumping from the Wagga Tigers, Griffith fell by the exact same margin - and in nearly the exact same fashion – to Collingullie-Ashmont-Kapooka at Exies Oval. Just like last round, the Swans turned in an encouraging first quarter and were in touch at the long break – only to be steamrolled as the visitors piled on 14 goals to two for an easy win. Collingullie-AK’s chief destroyer was Marc Geppert, who outclassed Griffith off his own boot with a stunning 12-goal haul. Swans captain-coach Guy Orton – who sat out the match through injury – said Geppert was close to unstoppable. “Marc’s definitely a dominate forward in our league and he goes about his job very well,” he said. “He leads to the right spots and his team obviously knows where he leads and gives it to him laces out. “The means its a tough job for who ever’s put on him.”We had Glen Snaidero and Chris Niven and both did a fantastic jobs on him, but when you are getting that sort of delivery all day long, it’s not about who you have got on him, but how you can stop that delivery.” 
Despite the defeat, Orton said he was pleased with the efforts of his undermanned side. “(CAK) is a quality side and they’re very polished with their skills and the way they play together. It’s definitely shown us we’ve got a lot of work to do.” “We’ve obviously got to finish the year knowing we can’t make finals and it’s hard to get up in that situation, but we’ve got to push forward and look towards the next couple of years.”
Meanwhile, Orton has discovered the nature of the mystery injury that saw him ruled out of the match and rushed to hospital during the week. A fracture in one of his lower vertebrae could keep him out for the rest of the season after he admitted he was unsure when he would play again. (By Vince Rugari – The Area News, Monday August 5, 2013).

Round 16 - Sunday August 11, 2013 at Kindra Park 2.10pm

Coolamon ..... 3.1 .. 8.7 .. 12.14 .. 13.17 (95)
Griffith .......... 2.4 .. 4.5 .. 5.10 .. 9.11 (65)
Goals: Coolamon: L Roberts 4, J So-Ong 2, M Crawford 2, N Edyvean 2, J McKenzie, C Neyland, B Cadzow
Griffith: D Crack 3, G Orton 2, J Toscan, J Burley, B Mathews, G Snaidero
Best: Coolamon: B Edyvean, M Stephenson, M Crawford, J Maddox, C Neyland, H Bradley
Griffith: J Gastin, T Richards, M Duncan, D Crack, G Orton, T Shannon

Coolamon: M Macauley, G Aki, A Rogers; A McKenzie, Murray Stephenson, H Leary; J Wiggers, J Rapley, H Bradley; L Maloney, J McKenzie, M Crawford; L Roberts, B Cadzow, S Robinson; B Edyvean, C Neyland, J Maddox; N Edyvean, J Robinson, M McKelvie, J So-Ong
Griffith: J Burley*, G Snaidero, J Keenan; T West, J Taylor, J Gastin; L Peruzzi*, M Duncan, T Shannon; J Fallon, T Richards, D Moysey; D Crack, B Mathews, M Hogan; J Toscan, G Orton (c-c), T Matheson; D Peruzzi, B Tarr, R Johns, J Foley*
Umpires: R Dedini, S Wemyss, D Potts (RUA)

Other matches: Ganmain-GGM 24.18 (162) def Narrandera 3.8 (26), Mangoplah-CUE 11.13 (79) def Wagga 9.10 (64), Turvey Park 5.10 (40) def by Leeton-Whitton 24.18 (162); Collingullie-AK, bye.

Reserves: Griffith 8.6 (54) d Coolamon 7.10 (52)

Goals: D Dunbar 5, J Evans 3
Under 17: Griffith 14.9 (93) d Coolamon 10.9 (69)

Goals: D Richens 4, J Gordon 3, L Peruzzi 2, B Moore 2, D Peruzzi 2, D Evans

Match report: Swans captain-coach Guy Orton has praised the “character and grit” of his side despite it slumping to a 30-point loss to RFL high-flyers Coolamon yesterday. After been subjected to 100-plus point floggings the two previous rounds, Orton said the Swans’ effort to stay in touch with Coolamon – and outscore them four goals to one in the final term – was commendable. “I couldn’t be happier with the boys, they fought all the way and stood up when they needed to,” Orton said. “We can’t make the finals and it can be hard to motivate teams in that situation, but I couldn’t fault their effort. “The last couple of weeks we’ve kind of given up when things have turned bad we played the full game this week and I’m really proud.” 
Orton’s effort was every bit as remarkable as his side’s. The reigning Jim Quinn medallist was long odds to play again this season after fracturing a vertebrae against Collingullie-AK in round 15, but a second medical opinion saw him take the field yesterday and kick two goals. “I’ve pulled up pretty sore but I’m all good,” he said. Trailing by three points at quarter time, the Swans were blown off the park in the middle two quarters, with the undefeated Coolamon kicking 9.13 to the Swans’ 3.6. But a plucky last quarter from the visitors returned some respectability to the scoreboard and rekindled hopes Griffith could finish the season strongly.

Dean Crack kicked three goals for the Swans while Glen Snaidero, James Toscan, Jordan Burley and Brandon Mathews all chipped in with singles. In an all-times niggling contest, the Swans fought hard around the stoppages but Coolamon showed their class when allowed space. Best for Griffith were half-back flanker Jono Gastin and rugby league covert Trevor Richards. Young debutantes Jordan Burley, Luke Peruzzi and Josh Foley also had strong games. (By Vince Rugari – The Area News, August 12, 2013).

Round 17 - Sunday August 18, 2013 at Griffith Exies Oval 2.10pm

Griffith .................. 0.0 .. 2.2 .. 5.4 .. 6.5 (41)
Ganmain-GGM ... 7.3 .. 11.5 .. 17.10 .. 20.12 (132)
Goals: Griffith: M Duncan 2, T Richards 2, T Shannon, G Snaidero
Ganmain-GGM: D Hitchens 4, N McPherson 4, L Kohlhagen 2, J Olsson 2, N Irvine 2, C Steele 2, R Redfern, J Kotzur, A Jusup, B Walsh
Best: Griffith: J Taylor, T Richards, G Orton, T Shannon, T West, J Foley
Ganmain-GGM: B Walsh, C Steele, J Olsson, L Kohlhagen, N McPherson, S Hatty
Griffith: J Keenan, G Snaidero, R Johns; J Gastin, J Fallon, T West; M Peruzzi, M Duncan, B Tarr; D Moysey, M Hogan, T Matheson; D Crack, T Richards, T Shannon; J Toscan, G Orton (c-c), G Snaidero; J Gordon, J Foley, J Burley, C Harrison

Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong: A Roberts, N Kember, P Hamblin; L Walsh, A Clarke, S Hatty; J Lander, L Steward, N Irvine; D Rankin, B Walsh, L Kohlhagen; N McPherson, A Jusup, S Crozier; J Olsson, J Kotzur (c-c), C Steele; R Redfern, B McKinnon, D Hitchens, J Evans

Umpires: R Wilson, R Dedini, H Banks (RUA)

Other matches: Collingullie-AK 24.20 (164) def Mangoplah-CUE 9.9 (63), Leeton-Whitton 9.4 (58) def by Coolamon 17.12 (114), Narrandera 7.8 (50) def by Wagga 14.18 (102); Turvey Park, bye

Reserves: Ganmain-GGM 8.11 (59) d Griffith 7.10 (52)

Goals: K Farrell 2, J Evans, T Webb, K Hume, D Dunbar, N Witherspoon
Under 17: Griffith 14.14 (98) d Ganmain-GGM 5.4 (34)

Goals: K Ruyg 3, J Thornton 2, C Heffernan 2, B Testoni 2, D Evans, N Richards, B Walker, D Peruzzi, M Peruzzi

Match report: Swans captain-coach Guy Orton has lashed out at a lack of hunger in his players after they were handed yet another flogging, this time by Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong yesterday. A seven-goal first quarter from the Lions set up an easy 91-point victory at Exies Oval – just a week after Griffith’s season showed signs of life in a vastly improved performance against runaway leaders Coolamon.

It took until the second term for the Swans to register a score and they were blown away again after half-time as GGGM piled on nine goals to four. Orton said it was a continued struggle to motivate the players given Griffith is no chance for RFL finals – and he admitted some “(didn’t) seem to be upset at all” with the heavy loss. “It’d depressing but what can you do? To them it’s just another week, another game of footy,” he said. “For the people who have been there, played finals, won a flag – they know how much work it takes.

“The normal blokes stood up and had a go, but I don’t know...it really is hard to go from last week’s performance to this. “There were some guys that just didn’t attack the footy like they normally would, and those guys need to understand what it takes to get there. “You’ve got to be at your best every week – you can’t have good game one week and not turn up the next.” 
Orton pointed to the likes of teenage utility Tom Shannon, who has only recently been blooded into first-grade but was Griffith’s best yesterday, as an example of how he wants his younger players to go about their football. “He’s wanting to improve his footy, he’s a kid that’s got potential and obviously belongs in the seniors, no doubt,” he said. “There’s Josh Foley, who’s just hard at the footy. “We’ve got some good young kids coming through but it’s just about getting them to understand… I wasn’t brought up to play footy just for fun.” 
The Lions were helped by a near gale-force wind in the first quarter but Orton said his side wasn’t able to use it to their advantage when they had it. Veterans Mick Duncan and Trevor Richards were Griffith’s only multiple goalkickers. (By Vince Rugari – The Area News, August 19, 2013). 

Round 18 - Saturday August 24, 2013 at Griffith Exies Oval 2.10pm

Griffith ..................... 2.4 .. 3.5 .. 7.6 .. 12.6 (78)
Mangoplah-CUE ... 6.4 .. 14.8 .. 18.9 .. 24.12 (156)
Goals: Griffith: G Orton 2, K Ruyg 2, T Richards 2, J Burley 2, D Moysey, J Toscan, M Duncan, J Foley
MCUE: R Price 4, J Phillips 4, S Purcell 4, Joe Scott 3, H Himmelberg 3, A Dickens 2, Z Williams, S Creasy, J Collins, R Cohalan
Best: Griffith: J Toscan, M Duncan, G Orton, J Foley, T Matheson, J Taylor
MCUE: P Killalea, S Creasy, J Phillips, R Price, H Himmelberg, Joe Scott
Griffith: R Johns, J Taylor, J Foley; J Gastin, J Fallon, T West; M Peruzzi, M Duncan, B Tarr; D Moysey, J Burley, D Crack; R Holland, T Richards, K Ruyg*; J Toscan, G Orton (c-c), T Matheson; J Gordon, D Evans*, C Heffernan*, S McCanna

Mangoplah-Cookadinia Utd-Eastlakes: N Baggio, J Millar, M Collins; T Keogh, H Lloyd, Trent Cohalan; J Collins: S Creasy, D Jones; Joe Scott, R Cohalan, J Phillips; R Price, A Dickens, H Himmelberg; S Purcell, H Collins, P Killalea; James Scott, Z Williams, S Burge, A Carey

Umpires: R Neighbour, P Smith, C Warner (RUA)

Other matches: Collingullie-AK 17.20 (122) def Turvey Park 5.3 (33), Leeton-Whitton 10.10 (70) def by Wagga 13.10 (88); Coolamon 11.13 (79) def by Ganmain-GGM 13.9 (87); Narrandera, bye.

Reserves: Griffith 12.7 (79) d Mangoplah-CUE 2.5 (17)

Goals: T Shannon 5, K Hume 3, T Webb 3, A Cappello
Under 17: Griffith bye

Match report: A long season for Griffith Swans is finally over after a youthful line-up slumped to a 78-point defeat to Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes on Saturday. The loss was the fifth-straight for the team, who finish the season in seventh place with four wins for the season, after the loss to the finals-bound Goannas. The Swans were never a threat in the game, down four goals at quarter time and taking a 73-point deficit into the main break. The opportunity to give some of the club’s juniors more experience in senior football was one of few highlights for the Swans. “We played a lot of kids, with a few having their first game, so it was a good experience for them,” coach Guy Orton said.  “They are obviously starting to play some good footy leading into the finals and we were a little bit under done with who we had. 
Kieran Ruyg and Connor Heffernan both made their first grade debuts with Ruyg in particular impressing the coach. “Kieran kicked a couple of goals and got up and about so that was good to see,” Orton said. They are going to learn against a team like that, who are going into finals.” 

Another positive from the match was how the team responded in the second half, making it more of a contest. The Swans outscored their opponents five goals to four in the third term and were competitive in the final quarter, limiting Mangoplah’s scoring opportunities after a disastrous first half. 
Orton thought that a change of mentality discussed at half-time to have a bit more fun was the catalyst for the change and proved that the team can compete against the top sides in the competition. “That’s the point we brought up after the game, we obviously can stand up and play against those top five teams, but we need more experience. It is hard as we don’t have a lot of senior guys in our team’’ he said. There were some good signs with our kids and Josh Foley attacked the ball really well again. “It would have been nice to win the game and finish on a high, but it wasn’t to be. (By Courtney Rees – The Area News, Monday August 26, 2013).

2013 RFNL NETBALL Ladders

A grade: Mangoplah-CUE 60, Ganmain-GGM 56, Narrandera 50, Collingullie-AK 50, Leeton-Whitton 36; Turvey Park 32; Wagga Tigers 32; Griffith 32, Coolamon 12.

A Reserve: Turvey Park 70, Leeton-Whitton 60, Collingullie-AK 54, Mangoplah-CUE 48, Narrandera 40; Griffith 32, Ganmain-GGM 24, Wagga Tigers 20, Coolamon 10.

B grade: Leeton-Whitton 68, Turvey Park 64, Wagga Tigers 52, Griffith 46, Collingullie-AK 44; Narrandera 38, Ganmain-GGM 20, Mangoplah-CUE 16, Coolamon 12.

C grade: Narrandera 68, Leeton-Whitton 60, Collingullie-AK 54, Mangoplah-CUE 44, Turvey Park 40; Griffith 34, Ganmain-GGM 28, Wagga Tigers 16, Coolamon 16.

Qualifying Final - Saturday August 31, 2013 at Narrandera Sportsground 2.30pm

Ganmain-GGM ... 1.3 .. 2.7 .. 2.9 .. 4.11 (35)

Collingullie-AK .. 2.7 .. 9.9 .. 14.9 .. 16.11 (107)

Goals: GGGM: M Steele 2, J Kotzur, B Walsh

CAK: M Geppert 5, B Aiken 4, C Gordon 2, B Absolum 2, K Sykes 2, M Beckmans

Best: GGGM: D Rankin, S Crozier, A Roberts, N McPherson, L Walsh, N Kember

CAK: C Gordon, K Sykes, C Gow, G Spriggs, B Aiken, J Klemke

Umpires: G Hodgins, J Hilton, T Richards (RUA)

Ganmain-GGM: Andrew Roberts, Andrew Clarke, Luke Walsh; Pat Walsh, Paul Hamblin, Sam Hatty; Jesse Lander, Lachlan Steward, Nathan Irvine; Daniel Rankin, Nathan Kember, Luke Kohlhagen; David Karlberg, Ben Walsh, Scott Crozier; Jacob Olsson, Jayden Kotzur (c-c), Curtis Steele; Mitchell Steele, Nathan McPherson, Damian Walsh, Brad McKinnon

Collingullie-AK: Chris Gow, Geoff Spriggs, Kallan Sykes; Daniel Kennedy, Will Haines, Jack Egan; Matthew Kennedy, Jayden Klemke, Matt Beckmans; Ben Absolum, Josh Meiselbach, Nick Perryman; Brad Aiken, Marc Geppert, Curtis Allen; Chris Jackson, Matt Lewington, Chris Gordon; Brett Lenon, Nathan Fuller, Shane Gow, Ryan Dean

Umpires: G Hodgins, J Hilton, T Richards (RUA)

Reserves: Mangoplah-CUE 14.8 (92) d Coolamon 6.6 (42)

Under 17: Temora 10.8 (68) d Turvey Park 8.13 (61)

Elimination Final - Sunday September 1, 2013 at Maher Oval 2.30pm

Wagga Tigers ...... 2.4 .. 4.9 .. 7.12 .. 13.15 (93)

Mangoplah-CUE .. 3.2 .. 6.3 .. 10.3 .. 12.4 (76)

Goals: Wagga: D Howard 3, M Rava 2, C Byrne 2, M O'Neill 2, N Ryan, E Lindon, J Maslin, J Buchanan

MCUE: I Damme 4, J Phillips 3, P Killalea, H Collins, S Creasy, J Creasy, A Dickins

Best: Wagga: S Flanigan, M Rava, J Maslin, C Bance, C Byrne, B Graham

MCUE: I Damme, J Killalea, S Creasy, H Lloyd, H Collins, J Phillips

Wagga Tigers: Pat Noonan, Matthew Noonan, Ted Lindon; Lahn Shepherd, John Anstee, Liam McGregor; Jeremiah Maslin, Matt Rava, Charlie Bance; John Simpson, Xavier Brennan, Zac Keogh; Jim Carroll, Dougal Howard, Tom Power (c-c); Brad Graham, Shaun Flanigan, Jackson Kew; John Buchanan, Nick Ryan, Connor Byrne, Marc O'Neill

Mangoplah-CUE: Harrison Himmelberg, Mark Roberson, Jack Killalea; Trent Cohalan, Hunter Lloyd, Tom Keogh; Jock Cornell, Stace Creasy, Jack Collins; Ryan Price, Isaac Damme, Jake Phillips; Jeff Millar, Andrew Dickins, James Creasy; Scott Purcell, Harry Collins, Pat Killalea; James Scott, Reece Cohalan, Matt Collins, Joe Scott

Umpires: B Robinson, H Banks, R Dedini (RUA)

Reserves: Ganmain-GGM 8.10 (58) d Griffith 6.10 (46)

Goals: Griffith: T Shannon 2, D Dunbar, K Hume, M Hogan, J Hampel

Best: Griffith: C Niven, D Catanzariti, J Evans, D Dunbar, J Ryan, K Farrell

Griffith: Ryan Williamson, Chris Niven, James Keenan; Dean Catanzariti, Ben McRae, Kim Farrell; Glen Taylor, David Dunbar (capt), Cameron Harrison; Andrew Cappello, Matthew Hogan, Joshua Tyndall; Luke Peruzzi, Tom Shannon, Kieran Hume; Jesse Ryan, Tom Webb, John Evans; Jason Hampel, Casey Boye, Dean Spratt, Scott Simpson

Umpires: R Wilson, P Hughes, D Potts (RUA)

Under 17: Collingullie-AK 13.8 (86) d Mangoplah-CUE 9.9 (63)

Second Semi Final - Saturday September 7, 2013 at Narrandera Sportsground 4.30pm

Coolamon ........... 2.1 .. 4.3 .. 7.5 .. 9.7 (61)

Collingullie-AK .. 1.4 .. 3.6 .. 4.10 .. 6.16 (52)

Goals: Coolamon: J So-Ong 2, B Fixter 2, S Robinson 2, M McCauley, Mitch Stephenson, M Crawford

CAK: M Geppert 2, K Sykes, B Aiken, C Gow, R Dean

Best: Coolamon: C Neyland, Mitch Stephenson, B Edyvean, A Rogers, J Maddox, R Chamberlain

CAK: C Gordon, C Jackson, C Gow, K Sykes, G Spriggs, R Dean

Coolamon: Jesse Rapley, Murray Stephenson, Connor Neyland; Adam McKenzie, Marshall McCauley, Alex Rogers; Mitch Stephenson, Ryan Chamberlain, Hayden Bradley; Jake Wiggers, Ben Cadzow, Mark Crawford; Mitch O'Brien, Lew Roberts, Zac Robinson; Ben Edyvean, Ben Fixter, Jamie Maddox; Sam Robinson, Jason So-Ong, Greg Aki, Hayden Leary

Collingullie-AK: Matt Lewington, Geoff Spriggs, Kallan Sykes; Daniel Kennedy, Will Haines, Jack Egan; Matthew Kennedy, Jayden Klemke, Nick Perryman; Chris Gow, Matt Beckmans, Ben Absolum; Brad Aiken, Marc Geppert, Shane Gow; Chris Jackson, Chris Gordon, Curtis Allen; Brett Lenon, Jack Turnball, Ryan Dean, Mitchell Castles

Umpires: T Beard, S Wemyss, G Hodgins (RUA)

Reserves: Mangoplah-CUE 15.11 (101) d Collingullie-AK 11.5 (71)

Under 17: Wagga Tigers 11.21 (87) d Temora 11.12 (78)

First Semi Final - Sunday September 8, 2013 at Robertson Oval 2.30pm

Ganmain-GGM .. 2.3 .. 4.4 .. 12.9 .. 15.9 (99)

Wagga Tigers ... 1.3 .. 4.6 .. 4.7 .. 8.14 (62)

Goals: GGGM: M Steele 4, J Kotzur 3, D Hitchens 3, L Steward, L Kohlhagen, D Rankin, N Irvine, S Crozier

Wagga: M King 4, D Howard, Z Keogh, J Carroll, M Rava

Best: GGGM: J Olsson, L Walsh, L Kohlhagen, N Kember, B Walsh, L Steward

Wagga: S Flanigan, Z Keogh, M King, J Anstee, C Bance, M O'Neill

Ganmain-GGM: Andrew Roberts, Nathan Kember, Paul Hamblin; Luke Walsh, Paul Hamblin, Sam Hatty; Jesse Lander, Lachlan Steward, Brad McKinnon; Daniel Rankin, Ben Walsh, Luke Kohlhagen; Damien Walsh, Mitchell Steele, Scott Crozier; Jacob Olsson, Jayden Kotzur (c-c), Curtis Steele; Daniel Hitchens, Nathan McPherson, David Karlberg, Nathan Irvine

Wagga Tigers: John Simpson, Matthew Noonan, Liam McGregor; Lahn Shepherd, John Anstee, Tom Power (c-c); Jeremiah Maslin, Matt Rava, Charlie Bance; Max King, Ted Lindon, Zac Keogh; Jim Carroll, Xavier Brennan, Dougal Howard; Brad Graham, Shaun Flanigan, Jackson Kew; John Buchanan, Nick Ryan, Connor Byrne, Marc O'Neill

Umpires: ---

Reserves: Ganmain-GGM 14.19 (103) d Coolamon 8.6 (54)

Under 17: Turvey Park 12.17 (89) d Collingullie-AK 10.12 (72)

Preliminary Final - Sunday September 15, 2013 at Robertson Oval 2.30pm

Collingullie-AK ... 7.4 .. 9.5 .. 9.7 .. 15.12 (102)

Ganmain-GGM ... 0.2 .. 4.4 .. 6.6 .. 9.8 (62)

Goals: CAK: M Geppert 4, C Allen 3, B Aiken 2, N Perryman 2, J Klemke, J Meiselbach, J Egan, C Vearing

GGGM: L Kohlhagen 3, J Olsson 2, B Walsh, D Rankin, M Steele, C Steele

Best: CAK: C Allen, C Jackson, M Kennedy, D Kennedy, N Perryman, J Klemke

GGGM: L Kohlhagen, C Steele, S Crozier, N Kember, D Rankin, J Olsson

Collingullie-AK: Jack Egan, Geoff Spriggs, Kallan Sykes; Daniel Kennedy, Will Haines, Ben Absolum; Matt Beckmans, Jayden Klemke, Nick Perryman; Caleb Vearing, Josh Meiselbach, Matthew Kennedy; Brad Aiken, Marc Geppert, Curtis Allen; Chris Jackson, Chris Gordon, Chris Gow; Brett Lenon, Nathan Fuller, Ryan Dean, Shane Gow

Ganmain-GGM: Andrew Roberts, Nathan Kember, Pat Walsh; Luke Walsh, Andrew Clarke, Sam Hatty; Curtis Steele, Lachlan Steward, Jesse Lander; Luke Kohlhagen, Ben Walsh, Daniel Rankin; Nathan McPherson, Mitchell Steele, Daniel Hitchins; Jacob Olsson, Scott Crozier, Jayden Kotzur (c-c); Nathan Irvine, Brad McKinnon, Paul Hamblin, David Karlberg

Umpires: T Richards, C Warner, P Harris (RUA)

Reserves: Collingullie-AK 17.11 (113) d Ganmain-GGM 6.9 (45)

Under 17: Temora 16.10 (106) d Turvey Park 9.10 (64)

Grand Final - Sunday September 22, 2013 at Narrandera Sportsground 2.30pm

Coolamon ........... 1.1 .. 5.8 .. 7.13 .. 11.17 (83)

Collingullie-AK .. 2.4 .. 4.7 .. 8.10 .. 8.12 (60)

Goals: Coolamon: L Roberts 2, J Wiggers 2, B Fixter 2, Mitch Stephenson, B Cadzow, M O'Brien, J McKenzie, A McKenzie

CAK: M Geppert 2, C Gordon 2, M Beckmans 2, C Allen, B Aiken

Best: Coolamon: J Wiggers, Murray Stephenson, M Macauley, C Neyland, Mitch Stephenson, L Roberts

CAK: C Gow, G Spriggs, D Kennedy, C Allen, M Kennedy, S Gow

Coolamon: Jess Rapley, Murray Stephenson, Connor Neyland; Adam McKenzie, Marshall McCauley, Alex Rogers; Luke Maloney, Ben Fixter, Mitch Stephenson; Ryan Chamberlain, Lew Roberts, Jake Wiggers; James McKenzie, Mitch O'Brien, Zac Robinson; Ben Edyvean, Jamie Maddox, Mark Crawford; Hayden Bradley, Ben Cadzow, Sam Robinson, Jason So-Ong. Coach: Matt Hard

Collingullie-Ashmont-Kapooka: Jack Egan, Geoff Spriggs, Kallan Sykes; Daniel Kennedy, Will Haines, Ben Absolum; Matt Kennedy, Jayden Klemke, Nick Perryman; Matt Beckmans, Josh Meiselbach, Caleb Vearing; Brad Aiken, Marc Geppert, Curtis Allen; Chris Jackson, Chris Gordon, Chris Gow; Brett Lenon, Shane Gow, Nathan Fuller, Ryan Dean. Coach: Shane Lenon

Umpires: Tim Beard, Sam Wemyss, Pat Harris. Gate: $30,160. Crowd: 3,800 est.

Reserves: Collingullie-AK 15.8 (98) d Mangoplah-CUE 10.10 (70)

Umpires: Ryan Dedini, Trent Richards, Cameron Warner (RUA)

Under 17: Wagga Tigers 18.18 (126) d Temora 10.5 (65)

Umpires: Pat O'Donoghue, Darren Solly, Sharna Doughney (RUA)

Netball - A grade: Mangoplah-CUE 45 d Narrandera 39; A Reserve: Turvey Park 48 d Collingullie-AK 32; B grade: Turvey Park 48 d Leeton-Whitton 43; C grade: Leeton-Whitton 36 d Narrandera 30

 MATHEWS TAKES REINS AS ORTON SIGNS ON – By Vince Rugari 

THE Griffith Swans have secured a double coup for next season, signing former Ovens and Murray veteran Brandon Mathews as senior coach and star midfielder Guy Orton for a further two years. Mathews takes over the full-time coaching reins from Orton, who has opted to concentrate solely on playing for the remainder of his career. Mathews, who joined Griffith this year but was restricted to just five games due to persistent hip injury, has no senior coaching experience but played nearly a decade under celebrated Lavington mentor Tim Sanson, widely considered one of the best coaches in country football. “I wouldn’t have done it if I didn’t think I could help people or make a difference,” he told The Area News. “For me it’s not about me coaching the Swans, it’s about the Swans hopefully getting better and a bit more of a following and more people playing the game. It’s a pretty easy game if you can just work the basics out. “I was lucky to have probably the best coach in country footy for a long time and you see how they did things and pick up some ideas. What (Sanson) got out of blokes was unreal. “It doesn’t take a lot to teach people if they want to learn and that’s what Lavington was about when I was there – training was all working on skills and the basics.”
Orton’s re-signing ends speculation surrounding the future of last year’s Jim Quinn medalist, who will spend the off-season playing for St Mary in the Northern Territory Football League. He said he was more than happy to step aside for Mathews, admitting he felt held back from his best football by the added responsibility of coaching. “I can’t say it hadn’t affected me because it does – you’re concentrating on your game but there’s a lot going through your head,” Orton said. “I’m really looking forward to going out there next year with no pressure, just playing footy. “We’ve got enough on-field leaders in our team so to have Brandon on the sidelines doing the coaching I think will work well. “But he won’t do everything – I’ve got a lot of knowledge he can draw from and there’s a lot of support around the town and in the club for him.” (The Area News, Wednesday September 25, 2013). 

2013 RIVERINA FOOTBALL NETBALL LEAGUE AWARDS

Seniors: Best & Fairest - Jim Quinn Medal

24 - Chris Gordon (Collingullie-AK); 19 - Jayden Kotzur (Ganmain-GGM); 18 - Jamie Maddox (Coolamon), Andrew Dickins (Mangoplah-CUE); 16 - Jacob Olsson (Ganmain-GGM); 15 - Curtis Steele (Ganmain-GGM), Michael Duncan (Griffith); 13 - Brad Aiken (Collingullie-AK), Mitch Stephenson (Coolamon), Ben Curley (Leeton-Whitton); 11 - Matt Rava (Wagga Tigers); 10 - James Rice (Narrandera), 9 - Ryan Chamberlain (Coolamon); 8 - Mitchell O'Brien (Coolamon), Chris Cerato (Turvey Park), Evan Smith (Turvey Park); 7 - Matthew Beckmans (Collingullie-AK), Ben Edyvean (Coolamon), Shaun Flanigan (Wagga Tigers); 6 - Will Overs (Leeton-Whitton), Jay Kickett (Narrandera), Jackson Kew (Wagga Tigers); 5 - Ben Absolum, Chris Gow, Josh Meiselbach (Collingullie-AK), Lewis Roberts (Coolamon), Luke Kohlhagen, Luke Walsh (Ganmain-GGM), Guy Orton (Griffith), Bryce O'Garey (Leeton-Whitton), Bradley Graham (Wagga Tigers); 4 - Matthew Kennedy (Collingullie-AK), Connor Neyland (Coolamon), Lachlan Steward (Ganmain-GGM), James Toscan (Griffith), Harry Collins, Tom Keogh (Mangoplah-CUE), John Anstee (Wagga Tigers); 3 - Mark Crawford, Adam McKenzie (Coolamon), Che Jenkins (Griffith), Bradley Boots, Bradley Carver, Mason Dryburgh, Kodie O'Malley (Leeton-Whitton), Stace Creasy, Jack Killalea, Guy Ward (Mangoplah-CUE), Kurt Masters, Shaun Quilter (Narrandera), Daniel Toose (Turvey Park), Jeremiah Maslin, Ryan Miller, Tom Power, John Simpson (Wagga Tigers); 2 - Marc Geppert (Collingullie-AK), Marshal Macauley, James McKenzie (Coolamon), Nathan Irvine, Mitchell Steele (Ganmain-GGM), Alex Blissett (Griffith), Sean Browning, Calum Garvey, Siale Howe, Matthew Smith  (Leeton-Whitton), Scott Burge, James Creasy, Pat Killalea, Dean Ward (Mangoplah-CUE), Damon Burden, Glenn Currie (Narrandera), Nathan Weldon-Bowen (Turvey Park), Dougal Howard (Wagga Tigers); 1 - Sam Robinson, Murray Stephenson (Coolamon), Jesse Lander (Ganmain-GGM), Jonathon Gastin (Griffith), Jock Cornell, Trent Cohalan,  (Mangoplah-CUE), Mark Flack (Narrandera), Jeff Fletcher, Michael Mattingly, Matthew Ness (Turvey Park), Jim Carroll, Liam McGregor, Marc O'Neill, Scott Pearce, Lahn Shepherd, (Wagga Tigers).

                                                                                             Reserves - Frank Gaynor Medal
15 - Mitchell Jarrett (Coolamon); 12 - Michael Byrne (Mangoplah-CUE); 11 - Paul Lucas (Ganmain-GGM); 10 - Harrison Gillett (Coolamon), David Dunbar (Griffith), Jacob Osbeiston (Wagga Tigers); 8 - Ryan Dean, Nicholas Kennedy, Jack Turnbull, Jon Whelan (Collingullie-AK), Zac Beaumont (Turvey Park). Other Griffith players to receive votes were: 6 - Andrew Cappello, Matthew Hogan, Tom Webb; 4 - John Evans, Jesse Ryan; 3 - Dean Catanzariti, Jonathon Gastin, Jason Hampel; 2 - Kim Farrell, Kieran Hume, James Keenan; 1 - Ben McRae, Tom Shannon, Glenn Taylor.    
                                                                                               Under 17 - Lou Brown Medal
20 - Lachlan Moore (Collingullie-AK); 18 - Jack Irvine (Temora); 17 - Mitchell McKelvie (Coolamon), 16 - Tom Byrnes (Coollingullie-AK); 15 - Adam Carey (Mangoplah-CUE); 14 - Lucas Meline (Leeton-Whitton); 13 - Jesse Cunningham (Turvey Park), Jackson Kelly (Wagga Tigers); 12 - Haydn Philp (Temora); 11 - Mitchell Hardie (Leeton-Whitton), Tim Delaney (Wagga Tigers). Griffith players to receive votes were: 5 - Jordon Burley, Luke Peruzzi; 4 - Daniel Peruzzi, Joshua Foley, Joel Gordon, Kieran Ruyg; 3 - Dillon Evans, Riley Holland, Matthew Peruzzi; 2 - Connor Heffernan, Brad Moore, Toby Polkinghorne.

                                                                                                   Netball - Best & Fairest

A grade: 21- Jemima Norbury (Collingullie-AK); 17 - Tessa Goodbee (Ganmain-GGM), Peta Larkin (Griffith), Jackie Byrne (Mangoplah-CUE); 16 - Tracey Schultz-Cole (Mangoplah-CUE), Michelle Lumsden (Turvey Park); 15 - Brooke Walsh (Ganmain-GGM); 14 - Anna Korovata (Griffith), Claire Vant (Leeton-Whitton), Emma Piltz (Narrandera). Other Griffith players to receive votes were: 4 - Shannon Russell; 3 - Louise Robertson, Venina Taka; 2 - Maddie Testoni; 1 - Eilish Aird

A Reserve grade: 20 - Julie Cornell (Mangoplah-CUE); 16 - Georgie Campbell (Turvey Park); 15 - Courtney Menzies (Ganmain-GGM); 14 - Lily Wild (Collingullie-AK), Tennille Scott (Griffith); 13 - Shelly Lang (Leeton-Whitton), Casey Kew (Wagga Tigers); Sophie Quirk (Collingullie-AK), Megan Aliendi (Leeton-Whitton). Other Griffith players to receive votes were: 6 - Maddie Aird; 4 - Hannah Dodd, Monique Hogan; 3 - Nicole Robinson, Laura Vardanega; 2 - Eilish Aird; 1 - Danni Chambers, Anna Smith, Samantha Trott. 

B grade: 21 - Bridie O'Rourke (Mangoplah-CUE) & Brianna Cain (Turvey Park); 18 - Madeleine Robinson (Griffith); 17 - Sophie King (Wagga Tigers); 16 - Sophie Howard (Wagga Tigers); 15 - Ainslee O'Halleron, Sophie Tyson (Leeton-Whitton), Millie McIntyre (Narrandera); 13 Hannah Toscan (Griffith), Ellen Briggs (Wagga Tigers). Other Griffith players to receive votes were: 8 - Renae Larkin; 3 - Georgia Campbell, Nicola Robinson, Daisy Tyrell; 2 - Melanie Bortolazzo; 1 - Krista Fletcher, Shannon Russell, Tamika Scott.
C grade: 24 - Tammy Lenon (Collingullie-AK); 17 Christine Priest (Wagga Tigers); 16 - M Cunningham (Turvey Park); 15 - Caprice Centofanti; 14 - Leonie Moylan (Narrandera); 13 - Amanda Pearson (Narrandera); 12 - Renae Pritchard (Turvey Park). Other Griffith players to receive votes were: 7 - Taylor Chambers; 6 - Erinn Dunbar, Kaitlyn Vardanega; 3 - Skye Gallagher; 2 - Tania Bailey, Laura Vardanega; 1 - Eliza Tyndall, Sarah Young 

                                                                          Seniors:  Top Goalkickers (h/a) - Stewart Fraser Trophy
98 - Marc Geppert (Collingullie-AK), 44 - Brad Aiken (Collingullie-AK), 38 - Ryan Price (Mangoplah-CUE), 32 - Jayden Kotzur (Ganmain-GGM), 29 - Lew Roberts (Coolamon), 28 - Mitch O'Brien (Coolamon), 26 - Curtis Steele (Ganmain-GM), 24 - Jay Kickett (Narrandera), Dougal Howard (Wagga Tigers), 22 - Curtis Allen (Collingullie-AK), John Buchanan (Wagga Tigers).

                                                                                                 Reserves (Griggs Trophy)
38 - Kurt Stubenrauch (Coolamon); 37 - Dane Fuller (Collingullie-AK); 29 - Ben MacKenzie (Collingullie-AK); 26 - Jon Whelan (Collingullie-AK); 23 - Ryan Dean (Collingullie-AK).
                                                                                                 Under 17 (Dalco Trophy)
89 - Brayden Ambler (Collingullie-AK); 76 - Jacob Young (Leeton-Whitton); 50 - Daniel Leary (Temora); 49 - Matthew Geppert (Collingullie-AK); 37 - Isaac Carroll (Turvey Park).

AFL Riverina Rising Star: Dougal Howard (Wagga Tigers)

ANZ Netball Rising Star: Brooke Walsh (Ganmain-GGM)

Volunteer of the Year: Garry Powell (Narrandera)

AFL NSW/ACT Coach of the Year: Jayden Kotzur (Ganmain-GGM).

Club Championships: Collingullie-Ashmont-Kapooka

 GRIFFITH SWANS PRESENTATION NIGHT – By Vince Rugari 

SWANS great Mick Duncan has won his seventh club best and fairest award – but he’d trade them all in for a premiership in a heartbeat. The silky-smooth midfielder collected the accolade at Griffith’s presentation night at the Ex-Servicemen’s Club, finishing ahead of 2013 captain-coach Guy Orton, who was runner up. It was Duncan’s fourth best and fairest in a row, and the ninth consecutive occasion he has finished inside the top three, having won it in 2005, 2006 and 2007. But while happy with his own form this season, it won’t hide his disappointment with how a promising year for the Swans quickly turned into disaster as an unprecedented injury crisis took hold. Duncan was one of just three Swans players along with Dean Crack and Tom West, to have played every RFL match for the club this year – a statistic which speaks volumes about Griffith’s year of hell. “I think we used something like 48 players in the first grade side. When you’re chopping and changing the team every week you can’t settle down and do anything,” he said. “Personally. I had an injury free year so I was pretty happy. “My form was OK but from a footy point of view, it was disappointing. “It wasn’t that blokes weren’t trying, it was injuries that ruined it. “Basically by mid-year our season was over by weight of long-term injuries. There’s not a lot you can do.”

The Swans have already announced Brandon Mathews as new coach for next year, with star man Orton penning a two-year contract extension. Orton is currently playing for Northern Territory Football League side St Marys and it is understood to be scouting for players to bring back to Griffith with him.

Duncan said the Swans only need “two or three” more additions – and a bit of luck with injuries to become key players in the 2014 RFL premiership. “It was said by half a dozen people on the night – next year’s our 100th and everyone’s prepared to work hard over the off-season to make a memorable year for the footy club,” he said “I reckon if training started next week, the majority of blokes would be there. That’s how keen we are.” (The Area News, Friday October 25, 2013).

2013 GRIFFITH AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL NETBALL CLUB AWARDS

Saturday, October 19, 2013 at Griffith Ex-Servicemen's Club

Major Sponsors: Griffith Ex-Servicemen's Club & Owen Toyota

FOOTBALL

First grade

Best & Fairest: Michael Duncan

Runner-up: Guy Orton

Most Improved: James Taylor

Most Goals Kicked: James Toscan

Best Utility (Fergie King Memorial): James Toscan

Coach’s Award: Tom West

Reserve grade

Best & Fairest: John Evans

Runner-up: Kim Farrell / David Dunbar

Most Improved: Chris Milojevic

Most Goals Kicked: Justin Wade

Most Conscientious Player (Neville Gardiner Memorial Shield): Mitchell Robertson

Best Finals Player: Chris Niven

Coach’s Award: Kieran Hume

Under 17s

Best & Fairest: Riley Holland

Runner-up: Kieran Ruyg

Most Improved: Hugo Diaz

Best Utility: Dillon Evans

Most Goals Kicked (Brian Files Memorial): Brad Moore

Most Promising Player (Ronnie Williams Memorial): Jordan Burley

Encouragement Award (Fred Owen Memorial Shield): James Thornton

Coach’s Award: Ben Lewis

NETBALL

A grade

Best & Fairest: Peta Larkin

Players’ Player: Anna Korovata

Coach’s Award: Maddie Testoni

A Reserve

Best & Fairest: Tennille Scott

Players’ Player: Hannah Dodd

Coach’s Award: Maddie Aird

B grade

Best & Fairest: Maddie Robinson

Players’ Player: Daisy Tyrell

Coach’s Award: Georgia Campbell

C grade

Best & Fairest: Tania Bailey

Players’ Player: Taylor Chambers

Coach’s Award: Caprice Centofanti

Special awards

Most Conscientious Player/Clubperson (Netball - Bob & Brenda Spears): Caprice Centofanti

Most Conscientious Player/Clubperson (Football - Joan Hicks Memorial): Jonathon Gastin & Dean Catanzariti

Club Person of the Year (Bill Simmons Memorial): Mary Fuller

100 senior games milestone: Dean Crack, Mathew Crack & Jonathon Gastin.

2013 APPEARANCES & GOALS - RESERVES AND UNDER 17

Reserves: Casey Boye 11 / 1, Andrew Cappello 8 / 4, Drew Cassidy 10 / 3, Dean Catanzariti 9 / 0, Andrew Cullen 1 / 0, Charlie Cunial 2 / 4, Ben Davis 4 / 0, David Dunbar 12 / 11, Mark Duncan 16 / 1, Brian Evans 6 / 1, Dillon Evans 5 / 0, John Evans 12 / 9, Kim Farrell 8 / 5, Joshua Foley 3 / 0, Jonathon Gastin 1 / 2, Paul Goldsmith 1 / 0, Joel Gordon 3 / 0, Jason Hampel 15 / 9, Jeffrey Harris 1 / 1, Cameron Harrison 9 / 3, Connor Heffernan 1 / 0, Matthew Hogan 8 / 8, Riley Holland 2 / 0, Todd Howard 5 / 8, Kieran Hume 13 / 6, Royce Johns 2 / 0, Fletcher Josling 5 / 0, Craig Lugton 5 / 1, James Keenan 10 / 0, Matthew Keenan 1 / 0, James Kennedy 1 / 0, Bart Mackay 2 / 0, Richard Malone 1 / 0, Steven McCanna 2 / 1, Andy McRae 1 / 0, Ben McRae 8 / 0, James Mann 7 / 0, Chris Milojevic 12 / 3, Brad Moore 1 / 0, Daniel Moysey 3 / 1, Ethan Murphy 3 / 3, Chris Niven 8 / 0, Daniel Peruzzi 2 / 0, Luke Peruzzi 8 / 2, Lance Poka 2 / 1, Trevor Richards 4 / 10, Mitchell Robertson 7 / 1, Kieran Ruyg 4 / 2, Jesse Ryan 14 / 0, Tom Shannon 8 / 14, Rodney Simpkin 1 / 1, Scott Simpson 11 / 0, Dean Spratt 8 / 1, Ben Tarr 4 / 4, Ben Taylor 2 / 0, Glenn Taylor 15 / 0, Joshua Tyndall 10 / 0, Jack Tyrell 1 / 0, Dean Villata 2 / 0, Justin Wade 6 / 15, Tom Webb 10 / 5, Ryan Williamson 11 / 0, Nick Witherspoon 8 / 10. Coach: Greg Dreyer.

Under 17: Todd Argus 8 / 1, Jordon Burley 14 / 9, Damiel Camm 7 / 2, Ryan Cassidy 1 / 0, Charlie Cunial 9 / 3, Hugo Diaz 15 / 1, Luke Docherty 7 / 4, Dillon Evans 13 / 2, Lachlan Evans 5 / 1, Joshua Foley 12 / 2, Tyler Gilmore 8 / 2, Joel Gordon 11 / 8, Liam Greenaway 13 / 3, Joel Harrison 13 / 2, Connor Heffernan 10 / 2, Vaughn Higgins 1 / 0, Riley Holland 16 / 3, Ben Lewis 17 / 12, Connor Matheson 6 / 5, Logan Matheson 1 / 0, Pat McMahon 15 / 1, Andy McRae 12 / 0, Brad Moore 15 / 24, Ryan Moore, Daniel Peruzzi 10 / 3, Luke Peruzzi 17 / 4, Mathew Peruzzi 14 / 6, Toby Polkinghorne 4 / 2, John Reitano 17 / 0, Nathan Richards 4 / 2, Daniel Richens 16 / 6, Kieran Ruyg 15 / 23, Luke Shannon 5 / 1, Blake Testoni 3 / 2, James Thornton 16 / 2, Dean Villata 15 / 1, Brayden Walker 14 / 1. Coach: Damien Scott.

2013 SENIOR DEBUTS & FINAL SENIOR GAMES / GOALS

Debuts: April 13 - Joel Gordon, James Kennedy, Richard Malone, Brandon Mathews, Daniel Moysey, James Taylor; April 21 - Brendan Fevola; April 27 - Steven McCanna, Lance Poka; May 18 - Riley Holland, Trevor Richards, Ben Tarr; June 22 - David Dunbar, Mathew Peruzzi; July 6 - Tom Shannon; July 27 - James Keenan; August 11 - Jordon Burley, Joshua Foley, Luke Peruzzi; August 24 - Dillon Evans, Connor Heffernan, Kieran Ruyg.

Final Games / Goals: Jordon Burley (3 / 3), Mathew Crack (102 / 69), Dillon Evans (1 / 0), John Evans (23 / 1), Brendan Fevola (1 / 7), Connor Heffernan (1 / 0), Matthew Hogan (20 / 6), James Kennedy (7 / 11), Daniel Moysey (11 / 6), Lance Poka (8 / 0), Joshua Tyndall (6 / 1).