Round 17 - Saturday August 18, 2012
Riverina Football Netball League
Venue: Griffith Exies Oval 2.10pm 
Umpires: Rob Neighbour and Rob Johnston (RUA)
Griffith ................... 4.2 .. 10.5 .. 10.6 .. 11.8 (74) 
Collingullie-AK .... 3.2 .. 5.2 .. 11.6 .. 15.9 (99) 
GRIFFITH: Che Jenkins, Glen Snaidero, Royce Johns; John Evans, Matthew Noonan, Jonathon Gastin; Toby Blissett, Michael Duncan, Rick Daniher; Tom Miller, Jethro Calma-Holt, Tom Buckley; Brett Owen, James Toscan, Dean Crack; Dylan Cudmore, Guy Orton (c-c), Mathew Crack; Tim Matheson, James Fallon, Kris Duncan
COLLINGULLIE-ASHMONT-KAPOOKA: Ben Absolum, Kallan Sykes, Chris Gow; Bryson Lashbrook, Nathan Fuller, Tom Edgar; Daniel Kennedy, Todd Hayes, Jamie Wild; Curtis Allen, James Morris, Brad Aiken; Ben MacKenzie, Marc Geppart, Ryan Dean; Josh Meiselbach, Brett Lenon, Chris Gordon; Joshua McKenzie, Jack Egan, Mitchell Castles
GOALS
Griffith: J Toscan 2, T Miller 2, J Calma-Holt 2, M Duncan 2, B Owen, D Crack
Collingullie-AK: B Aiken 4, C Allen 3, J Morris 3, B Mackenzie 2, T Hayes, M Castles, M Geppert
BEST PLAYERS
Griffith: G Orton, G Snaidero, J Calma-Holt, C Jenkins, D Crack, M Noonan, J Fallon
Collingullie-AK: B Aiken, T Hayes, C Allen, J Meiselbach, C Gordon, J Morris, B Absolum

A summary of match report, with thanks
The Griffith Swans Riverina Football League finals dream are all but gone after a late collapse saw them give up a healthy lead against Collingullie-Ashmont-Kapooka at Exies Oval on Saturday. Needing to win their last two games to sneak into the top five, the Swans saw their 33-point lead at the main break eroded, as they lost 15.9 (99) to 11.8 (74).

Poor decision making at crucial times again cost the Swans as they kicked just a single point in the third term to let the Demons back into the game. Like a broken record, Griffith Swans coach Guy Orton lamented his side’s inability to turn their potential into a consistent four-quarter effort. 
Griffith were in the box seat to knock off the competition leader after kicking 10.5 in the first half, but their sluggish third term was combined with the Demons kicking six goals to see them grab the lead. From there the visitors used the momentum to push home the advantage and boot another four majors in the final term to seal the win. “It’s something I have questioned myself and I asked the other coaches, what can you do to get over this?” Orton said of his side’s inability to finish games.

“It seems to be the same sort of thing over and over that has cost us games. I just have to get it out of the guys’ heads, whether it’s because we’re up and we ‘don’t have to try as much’. “I’m not sure, but it only takes 10 minutes for a lull and things are even.”
Griffith now finds itself in the same situation as the 2011 finals race, which saw them miss out on percentage, with the locals needing several factors to fall their way if they are to extend their season. “Mathematically we can still make it, but we have to reply on other teams winning to help us out and we have to win well next weekend against Wagga Tigers,” Orton said.

“We wanted to make our own path to the finals but that’s football, and if we don’t make it then we’ll build and get stronger for next year.” The loss was further soured by the injuries to Brett Owen (hamstring) and Matt Crack (ankle) with the pair in serious doubt for next weekend.

(By Scott Hazlewood – The Area News, Monday August 20, 2012). 

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OTHER MATCHES - SAT: Mangoplah-CUE 6.9 (45) def by Coolamon 16.15 (111), Turvey Park 1.3 (9) def by Leeton-Whitton 20.15 (135); SUN: Ganmain-GGM 9.5 (59) def by Narrandera 15.11 (101); Wagga, bye.

Reserves: Griffith 9.12 (66) def Collingullie-AK 9.3 (57)
Goals: T Webb 2, D Dunbar 2, A Hawkins 2, K Hume, A Cappello, M Hogan
Best players: J Tyrell, C Lugton, J Tyndall, T Webb, A Cappello, J Hampel 
Under 17: Griffith 22.12 (144) def Collingullie-AK 0.1 (1)
Goals: N Witherspoon 7, T Polkinghorne 3, C Matheson 2, A Blissett 2, D Cassidy 2, B Moore 2, D Richens, T Bruns, D Evans, L Peruzzi
Best players: T West, D Evans, N Witherspoon, D Peruzzi, L Peruzzi, P McMahon