Swans On Screen
HISTORY IN RED AND WHITE
2026 RFNL SEASON
Women AFL Round 1-18 Finals Player Stats Ladders Swans Awards RFNL Awards One More Season to Forget
COMINGS AND GOINGS FOR 2026 SEASON
In: Dean, Kyle and Mark Bennett (Coleambally), Nathan Richards and Jack Rowston (Corowa-Rutherglen), Charlie Shepherd (Pambula Panthers); Jack Neyland (Coleambally), Ken Szaladzinski (The Entrance Bateau Bay).
Out: Ben Dinning (Robe), Bailey Morrissey and Lachlan Wallace (Barellan United), Jack Neyland (Coleambally), Zachary Spiers (Wollongong Lions), Willem Vaessen (St Bernards, VAFA).
IMPROVEMENT KEY AS CLUB ENTERS NEW ERA
WILL Vaessen's departure headlines a couple of key losses, which include Bailey Morrissey, who has taken on a new challenge in the Farrer League with Barellan. The Swans have, however, been boosted by the return of Dean, Kyle and Mark Bennett, who return to Griffith after a stint with Coleambally.
There's no doubt that a return to the final's contention is going to take some time. However, I feel that the Swans making Exies Oval a hard place to play should be one of their key goals this season.
While their season began with a tough loss to the reigning premiers, I believe the Swans will put forward a much better showing as they take on Leeton-Whitton under lights on Anzac Day.
Q & A with Jack Rowston
Who is in for a big season at the Swans?
Sam Foley is one who absolutely smashed the preseason. We did a lot of training this pre-season, three nights a week. We didn't expect everyone to get there for all three nights, but we hoped blokes get to two. Sam pretty much didn't miss any, and most weeks went to all three. He's dropped a heap of weight, and he's looking to have a big year through the midfield this year. Then Charlie Cunial has done a lot of work this year during the pre-season and with some gym work. He's put on a bit of size, and I think he'll also be in for a good year as well.
Who was the standout at pre-season training?
There were a few young blokes who put their hand up for senior selection. Then Kyle Bennett trained really well after coming back to Griffith from Coleambally. I was happy with his pre-season.
Which rival club will be the biggest improver this season?
I think Wagga Tigers. They've recruited quite well, and I think they'll be red hot this year.
Which game are you most looking forward to?
It's always good playing against Leeton. We've got them under lights on Anzac Day, and I think that will be a good one.
How was your first pre-season as a senior coach?
It was good. It went pretty smoothly. It's obviously hard during the pre-season, trying to juggle coaching and trying to do my own pre-season as a player at the same time. But I've had plenty of help, so I think it ran quite smoothly. I was quite happy how it went.
Who's thee best player in the Riverina League?
Luke McKay. His resume speaks for itself. When he was last here, I think he missed out on a few Jim Quinn votes because he was playing in a side that wasn't winning many games. With him now playing in a side that's going to be right at the top of the table this year, I think he'd be a red-hot favourite for it this year.
What are your expectations for the upcoming season?
We just want to improve. That's all we can do. We're not starting from a really low base, but obviously, there were some pretty strong teams last year, and we weren't quite up to it. If we can improve on last year and bring back those losing margins and get some extra wins on the board and be competitive, I think that would be a pass mark for us this year.
How's it been being back home?
It's been really enjoyable, I've been getting around all my mates, and I obviously loved last year at Corowa. But it's a lot of travel, and with starting up my electrical business this year and also doing some farming with dad, that travel was just going to be too hard. I've really enjoyed being back home, and I can't wait to get back into the RFL and get a few games under my belt.
What's the best excuse you've been given to miss training?
There have been a few. But probably the best came from Nathan Richards, who said he had a stye in his eye, but we all instead reckoned he had pinkeye. The Daily Advertiser - Thursday April 23, 2026.
AFTER 12 straight losses to start the season, Griffith coach Jack Rowston said it was great to finally get a well-earned win. "We really put the work in during the second and third quarters to get to a nice lead, but we let them back in it, " Rowston said.
"They played really good football in the last quarter, and it was probably a combination of that, plus us not knowing how to win our first one of the year and being a young side. "We haven't been in that position very often, but that's something we'll learning out of it, and it was good to get the four points."
Kahlan Spencer's fifth goal at the end of the third quarter saw the Swans enter the last change with a 29-point lead. The lead was quickly reduced to 23 points inside the opening minute of the last quarter thanks to an early goal from Narrandera's Felix Warren-Porteous.
Barry O'Connor further reduced Griffith's lead at the 11-minute mark, before a goal to Cooper Irons at the 11-minute mark got Narrandera back to within 10 points. A second goal to Irons in the 21st minute got the Eagles within a kick; however, they weren't able to find a match-winning goal in the final moments.
With the first win of the season on the line, Rowston said there were a few players who had some big moments late in the game for the Swans. "Nath (Richards) was good," he said. "He went back and sat in the hole a bit in the last quarter; he had a really strong game, as did the whole back six. "I thought Sam Foley was one of our better players down there, and he pulled the whole group in midway through the last quarter. "There was plenty of ball coming inside 50, but our boys were just dog hungry back there, and they fought it out all the way to the end. "It's a big credit to the back six. "They're a pretty young group, and they stood up."
WHIRLWIND FORTNIGHT FOR GRIFFITH TEEN - By Jimmy Meiklejohn
IT'S been an exciting fortnight for Griffith key forward prospect Hugh Crockett. The teenager recently returned home from the Gold Coast after he had played a key role in the GWS Giants Academy winning Pool B at the Boys U16 AFL National Championships..
Then on Saturday, Crockett kicked two goals for Griffith, which helped the Swans take their first win of the season against Narrandera.
It's been a whirlwind little period for Crockett, and all of this has occurred just a few days out from his 16th birthday.
Reflecting on the national championships, Crockett said it was great to take part in the exciting opportunity against the best young players in the country. "It was a good experience," Crockett said. "It was a good week up there. It was good fun with all the boys working together as a team. "On the field we had success with all the wins, and off the field, it was good to get around each other".
The 198cm key forward prospect was ultra consistent at the championships, kicking two goals apiece in each of the Giants' games against the Sydney Swans Academy, Tasmania, and the Gold Coast Suns Academy.
Crockett believes the toughest contest was against the Suns, with both teams eyeing a crucial win to conclude their championship campaign.
Crockett has played eight games this season for the Swans, anf he felt the senior experience had definitely been beneficial for his various representative commitments this year. "It's been good, and it definitely helped me for the academy games," he said.
Crockett made the rare jump from 15s straight to first grade, making his senior debut in round two against Collingullie-Wagga.
While quite a step up in level, Crockett credit the support shown to him by his senior coaches at the Swans for helping him find comfort playing first grade football. "It's been a bit of a challenge trying to find the ball," he said. "But you get used to it, and the boys get around you, especially the coaches. "I don't know where I'd be without them, and they're helped me a lot."
Winless through the first 12 games, the Swans held off a fast-finishing Narrandera to claim their first points of the season. After seven losses to begin his senior career, Crockett said it was great to finally claim a well-earned victory. Source - The Area News, August 8, 2026.
SWANS WIN AND THEY'RE IN - By Jimmy Meiklejohn
AFTER weeks of ticking boxes, the 'big one' is finally here for Griffith as they look to surge into finals with a last-round win over Coolamon.
With position one to four already settled, the last piece of the finals puzzle will be decided this weekend between the Swans and the Hoppers.
Currently half a game ad percentage behind Coolamon, the equation is simple for the Swans; won and you're in.
It's quite a daunting proposition and a lot of pressure to handle for a youthful side; however, the scenario is hardy news to Griffith.
In fact, it's one they are well prepared for, with Griffith coach Jenna Richards saying their last run of games has been building towards this win-or-go-home clash against the Hoppers.
"We've known for a little while now that this last game was probably going to determine where we end up," Richards said.
"Over the last four or five weeks, each game we've just tried to tick off and focus on each one as it come.
"But ultimately, we knew that this was going to be the big one, and we're really excited about hopefully getting a win."But what will be, will be."
The Swans have gone through momentum swings during the season, with their first win not arriving until round five, when they took a nail-biting 59-57 victory over Narrandera.
After finishing the first half of the season with three straight wins, the Swans then lost four on the trot, before bouncing back with three straight wins entering Saturday's clash against Coolamon. Fielding a very different team to last season, Richards believes her side had developed significantly as the season has progressed.
"I think the first half of the season, we were just working on combos and individual games," she said.
"We were working out what we could work on, so that we could ultimately complete with some of the top teams. For the older ones from last year, like myself, Alyssa Quinn, and Ella Gaske, we've taken the next step in terms of leadership and directing the young ones.
"The young ones have been really rising. There's Annie Jones, Matilda Poole, and Lara Farlow who are 17, while Georgia Leadbitter is only 14. They've really stepped up and don't look out of place, which has been exciting."
The Swans claimed the points when the two sides met earlier in the season, with Griffith emerging 44-36 winners at Kindra Park.
While noting it's a completely different ball game to earlier in the season, Richards believed there was a mental advantage having beaten the Hoppers already this year.
'I think it's always nice to have that in the back of your mind," she said. "But at the same time, they've got some players back that weren't there the first time. I think there are two that I know of which will make a difference.
With so much at stake, Richards also said they were going to have a few special guests on the sidelines.
It's great to have it at home," she said. "The biggest thing is having the support, and we've got a few girls from last year that will be coming... it will be really nice to have them there, and I'm sure they will be nice and loud for us."
Taking over the role as A-grade coach this season, Richards said she's been quite fortunate to have been given so much support as she's found her feet juggling both playing and coaching responsibilities.
"It's definitely been a learning curve," she said. "But I've been really lucky as I've had so much support from Joh Munro. She's been keeping in touch and seeing how I'm going. She's really helped me out. I've also had support of the club. Everyone is always touching bases and making sure and I've got everything that I need, and the girls also made it easy for me. The support from the club and the girls has been massive, so I'm pretty lucky. It's been a big change, but a good change." Source - The Daily Advertiser, Friday August 14, 2026.
PAVS MAGIC MILESTONE - By Jimmy Meiklejohn
WHAT started for a passion for stats will culminate in an incredible 700th coaching game this weekend for Adrian Pavese.
Having taken on the role in 1991, Pavese is in his fourth decade of coaching, and he will reach the incredible 700-game milestone today when Wagga Tigers host Narrandera.
Beginning his coaching career in under-11 at Griffith, Pavese detailed how that first position came to be, and how his love of stats has enabled him to keep up to date with his tally of games coached.
"It's pretty surreal," Pavese said. "This is my 35th year, and it's crazy when you look back at it, it's a lot of Tuesday and Thursday nights and a lot of preseasons.
"People have asked, how do I know I've done it.
"I grew up with not the richest childhood, and I always loved my stats as a young bloke.
"I used to get to the cricket shop, Evans Sports Store, and I'd buy a cricket book, and I would sit at home on a Saturday and Sunday and just score the cricket.
"George Duncan asked me in 1991, after they couldn't find an under-11s coach, if I would be interested."
"I was struggling to get a game in my first year out of the under-18s, I thought, why not, and I brought myself a little journal," Pavese said.
"I started writing down the games I coached for a couple of years, I then met my wife, and she was at uni, and she told me there was such a thing as spreadsheets.
"Ever since then, I've been keeping my numbers, I've been keeping my numbers, and all of a sudden, you get to 699 and think, wow, that's been a hell of a journey."
Pavese nearly had immediate success, with the Swans team making the preliminary finals in 1991.
Pavese has fond memories of his first couple of years at the Swans coaching the juniors, noting he was able to watch first hand on the development of some future club legends.
"I managed to get a group of boys together and there were some big names in there," he said.
"Michael and Rod Duncan, and some others, I ended up coaching them from '91 through to '99 through their whole junior career.
"To go and see these boys have a breakout premiership in 2003 at the senior level, it was pretty special.
"We had good fun there, no doubt, they were a good bunch of kids and George and Donna Duncan, they looked after and supported me.
"The early years were tough compared to what coaches get now in terms of resources and support.
"I was grateful to get a few people for helping to get to the next stage."
Still going strong over three decades later, Pavese said the excitement of coaching is what has kept him in the game for all these years.
"I guess it's the thrill," he said.
"I get nervous before every game still, I love being around the change rooms and the anticipation of not being quite sure what's going to happen.
"It's really a hard bug to kick, I tried to retire in '22 after we won the first grade premiership with Queanbeyan.
"But then our women's program opened up. If I'm honest with you, I'm not sure what my life would be without the coaching.
"It's been such a big part of it for all these years."
There's been a lot of success along the journey, with 11 premierships won from 16 grand finals appearances, including first-grade success at Queanbeyan.
However, there has been some difficult opponents to go up against, with Pavese recalling some of the toughest opposition he's faced over the years.
"During my junior years, Leeton was always a tough nut to crack," he said.
"They were very strong moving into the under-18s, Wagga Tigers were always very hard, as was Turvey Park.
"We beat Wagga Tigers in '99, they were undefeated all year, and we got them twice in the finals, which was very good.
In my times in Hillston, Ungarie were really tough, and Lake Cargelligo. Then at Queanbeyan, it was Ainslie and Belconnen.
"They were really tough, and you had to be at your best every week. In the Riverina League, it's Collingullie.
"I haven't beaten Collingullie in the two years I was at Griffith, and now, also my time at Wagga Tigers, I haven't been able to get that one yet. I've beaten everyone else except Collingullie, so they've been a bit of a thorn in the side. At AFLW level, Brisbane were a nightmare.
"They always used to pant us, even when we were playing our best footy."
After cutting his teeth with Griffith, Pavese then took on the role at Hillston, before making his move to Canberra with Queanbeyan.
A stint in the Ovens and Murray with Corowa-Rutherglen followed in 2013, while Pavese was also offered the opportunity to take on a coaching job with Melbourne in the infancy of the AFLW competition.
The in 2016, Pavese was offered the opportunity to return home to Griffith to take the reigns as first-grade coach of the Swans.
Having first coached in the juniors at his home club, Pavese said it was quite special being able to achieve a long-held dream of his.
"It was awesome," he said. "It was always a dream of mine to coach my home club, and when my father (Ray) passed away in 2015, the opportunity opened up because I was heading home a lot more to help my mum.
"Jeff Harris gave me a call and asked me what I thought. I said I'd love to, and it is a dream come true. I just wish Dad was around to have seen it, but I'm sure he watched me from afar, and it was really good.
"It was great to get back there and still coach Micky Duncan at the back-end of his career was something special as well."
A coaching career spanning over three decades doesn't happen without some help along the way, and Pavese said he was quite grateful to a lot of key people over his journey.
"There's a lot of gratitude I have for a few people who have gave me the opportunity," he said.
"George Duncan gave me an opportunity at the junior level, and then Ian Wade gave me an opportunity at the senior level. Jon Dwyer, who came from Queanbeyan ironically to coach Griffith, gave me the opportunity at reserve grade level.
"Julian Kelly at Hillston Swans gave me my first senior gig, which was huge, then it was Chook Fowler and Mark Armstrong who helped me after I decided I probably needed to take it to another level and move to Canberra.
"Chook was the general manager and Mark was the senior coach, and we're still very close friends today.
"Beau Longmire also gave me an opportunity at Corowa to coach in the Ovens and Murray, which was another dream.
"I then got that opportunity at AFLW level, which was huge, and just what I thought the phone would stop ringing, Wagga Tigers then offered me a role, which has been very exciting."
However, at the top of the list of people Pavese is most indebted is his wife, Annette.
"I also need to pay tribute to my wife, my heart and soul, Annette," he said.
"Without her, I probably don't get to do what I've been able to do and what I love. She raised my two kids, and without her, I don't get to achieve what I've achieved in the game. I'm very grateful." Source - Weekend Advertiser, Saturday May 30, 2026.
A BIG THANK YOU TO JIMMY MEIKLEJOHN FOR ALL HIS GREAT FOOTY WRITE-UP'S DURING THE YEAR, COYS.