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L00KING BACK
AT GRIFFITH SWANS PAST HOME MEETINGS WITH WAGGA TIGERS - 10.08.24
OUR two clubs first met in a practice match at Griffith in 1967, but did not play again until 1982, the first season of the newly formed Riverina Football League. On Saturday Wagga Tigers make their 40th visit to the Griffith Exies Oval.
The first competitive match was a Sunday fixture in round 21 on August 22, 1982, when the former Farrer League side triumphed 130 to 91. Major goal kickers for the game were Bran Hawke and Greg Sheather with seven each for the Tigers, while Swans Paul Baldi kicked five.
Griffith: - Grant Luhrs (c-c), Paul Baldi, Tony Hicks, Glenn Harrison, Trevor Burdett, Rowan Smith, Peter McGrath, Max Turner, Roy Agresta, Wayne Bottcher, Gerard Toscan, Martin O'Donnell, Ian Wade, Brett McAlister, Kelvin Turner, John Seidel, David Taylor, Robbie Owen, Bob Berton, John Toscan.
Two season years later on May 20, 1984, Griffith notched up their first victory over the Tigers on our home ground. The side was boosted by the return of several key players and good team play resulting in teenager Drew Hicks kicking six goals and Jerilderie recruit Ken Collier four. Gerard Toscan just edged Glenn McLeod for the best player award in their 117 to 91 win.
Griffith: - Robert Prest, Lynton Nugent, Scott Morphett, Scott Barber, Paul Sparkes, Wayne Bottcher, Gerard Toscan, Gary Waters (capt), Mark Buchanan, Drew Hicks, Peter Casey, Andrew Romagnolo, Robbie Owen, Simon Hicks, Greg Hill, Stephen "Tich" Buchanan, Ken Collier, Glenn McLeod, Mark Tyndall, Warren Foy.
For the next 30 odd years, victories for Swans over the Tigers proved few and far between, the only exception being the 1989, 1991 and 1992 seasons.
Home defeat finally came to an end for Griffith on Saturday June 20, 2015, when they turned in a four-quarter performance after a struggle for form all season to beat Wagga Tigers by 11 points, 72 to 67. The home side was well served by forward Henry Delves, the university student returning to Griffith to boot five goals in his first game of the season. Kieran Hume and Ben King also starred, but in a blow for the Swans, 206cm giant ruckman Michael Griffiths suffering a broken arm.
Griffith: - Kieran Hume, Richard Malone, James Fallon; Sam Daniel, James Taylor, Tom Groves; Daniel Peruzzi, Michael Duncan, Ben Tarr; Jonathon Gastin, James Toscan, Will Griggs; Henry Delves, Josh Hamilton, Dean Crack; Michael Griffiths, Chris Cerato, Ben King; Kieran Ruyg, James Keenan, Brandon Mathews (playing coach).
Wagga Tigers: - Lachlan Myers, James Reilly, Wayne Morley; Campbell Lovell, John Anstee, Pat Delaney; Brady Morton, Jacob Osbeiston, Nathan Cooke; Matt Rava (c-c), Angus Durnan, Nick Ryan; Dylan Morton, John Buchanan, Fergus Inglis; Brad Graham, Shaun Flanigan, Jackson Kelly; Jake Gaynor, Scott Pearce, Scott Lucas.
Since then, the sides have met at Exies Oval on eight more occasions and together have shared in four wins each.
Swans record against Tigers at Griffith Exies Oval: Played 39, Won 8, Lost 30, Draw 1.
Biggest Swans win: 32.16 (208) - 14.12 (96), R6, June 2, 1991.
Biggest Tigers win: 26.17 (173) - 5.9 (33), R2, April 17, 1988.
Most Swans goals: 7 - Matthew McGuirk, R3, May 3, 1992.
Most Tigers goals: 8 - Matt Walder, R5, May 13, 2007.