Round 18 - Saturday 19 August 2023 @ 2.10pm
Riverina Football Netball League
Venue: Griffith Exies Oval
Umpires: Craig Fletcher, Tim Beard and Andrew Tough (RUA)

Griffith .................. 3.2 .. 6.3 .. 9.7 .. 13.10 (88) 
Wagga Tigers ..... 1.3 .. 2.10 .. 3.13 .. 6.14 (50)
GRIFFITH: Sam Foley, Alec McCormick, Daniel Peruzzi; Taine Moraschi, Charlie Cunial, Dean Simpson; Jay Summers, Nicholas Conlan, Mason Rosengreen; James Girdler, Henry Delves, Kahlan Spencer; James Toscan, Patrick Payne, Alex Page; Nathan Richards, Rhys Pollock, Jack Rowston (capt); Oliver Bartter, Bailey Morrissey, Broden Spencer.
WAGGA TIGERS: Kobe Priest, Ben Kelly, Harry Kelly; Shaun Flanigan, Dylan Morton, Lachlan Field; Nicholas Gorman, Jock Cornell, Pat Ryan; Cooper Pavitt, Brady Morton, Jesse Manton; Nathan Cooke, Murray Stephenson (c-c), Sam Schirmer; Riley Flint, Jackson Kelly, Sam McNaughton; Matt Ryan, Kynan Milde, Ignatius Lyons. 
GOALS
Griffith - K Spencer 2, B Morrissey 2, J Toscan 2, R Pollock 2, J Summers, H Delves, N Richards, A Page, T Moraschi
Wagga - M Stephenson 2, C Pavitt, I Lyons, J Cornell, P Ryan
BEST PLAYERS
Griffith - A Page, D Simpson, N Richards, J Rowston, P Payne, O Bartter, C Cunial, B Morrissey 
Wagga - S Flanigan, D Morton, S McNaughton, I Lyons, B Kelly, J Cornell
Other matches - SAT: Leeton-Whitton 3.4 (22) def by Collingullie-GP 26.19 (175), Mangoplah-CUE 4.15 (39) def Coolamon Rovers 5.5 (35),  Narrandera 5.7 (37) def by Turvey Park 18.14 (122), Ganmain-GGM, bye.

A summary of match report, with thanks
Liam Warren - THE Griffith Swans have maintained their position in the top three heading into the Riverina Football League finals next weekend after a 38-point win over Wagga Tigers. Goals to Kahlan Spencer, Bailey Morrissey and James Toscan saw the home side able to take a 11-point lead into the first change.
The Tigers were able to pile on the pressure on the Swans' defence in the early stages of the second quarter but weren't able to turn that into goals as they kicked 1.7 in the second term to see Griffith maintain a 17-point lead at the main break.
The Swans kicked three straight goals before the Tigers could answer, and that set the tone for the rest of the game. The home side were able to get out as far as 43 points before the Tigers pulled two back before Spencer slotted home his second to see the Swans come away with a 13.10 (88) to 6.14 (50) win.
Swans coach Greg Dreyer was pleased with the way his side was able to soak up that pressure. "They obviously didn't kick straight, but I thought that the pressure that we showed, and I was happy that we were able to compete so consistently," he said. "It was a bit of a finals type game because we could have slipped to fifth and they were playing for their season." 
It was a physical game, and an early injury to Alec McCormick forced a reshuffle, but Dreyer felt the side was able to adjust to that.  "Paddy (Payne) was excellent. That happened really early, and for Pat to go back, I thought he outplayed his opponent at centre half back. He is a good player the big fella (Murray Stephenson)," he said. "It allowed us to have a bit of a smaller forward line, and I think that worked to our advantage as well. Ollie Bartter probably played his best game in probably a month, Kahlan lifted as well and played some more midfield minutes, and then, of course, Pagey and Dean Simpson were probably our two best players today." 
After two tough seasons, Dreyer felt the third-place finish showed the hard work the squad had been putting in. "We finished seventh last year and eighth the year before," he said. "Our goal was to make the finals, and we have been able to do that in a good spot as well. The boys have worked hard but not just this year but over the last couple of years." (The Area News - Monday August 21, 2023). 
Jimmy Meiklejohn - GRIFFITH will face Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong in next weekend's Riverina League qualifying final after claiming a strong win at home against Wagga Tigers. The win from the Swans sees them secure third place on the ladder while it also means that the Tigers season is over.
The Swans started the better of the two sides and went into quarter time up by 11 points before extending that lead to 17 at the main break. Griffith then continued on with their momentum in the third and go out to a 31-point lead at three quarter time while the Tigers were unable to make most of their opportunities as they came into the final change at 3.12. From there the Swans controlled the game in the final quarter as they ran out 13.10 (88) to 6.14 (50). winners over the Tigers. 
Their was a fair bit on the line for the Swans heading into the contest and Griffith coach Greg Dreyer told The Area News that he was happy with the performance. "They obviously didn't kick straight, but I thought the pressure that we showed and I was happy that we were able to compete so consistency," Dreyer said. "It was a bit of a finals type game because we could have slipped down to and they were playing for their season."
Griffith lost Alec McCormick to concussion early in the contest which forced a reshuffle as young key forward Patrick Payne was shifted down back to play on Tigers coach Murray Stephenson. Payne kept Stephenson to just two goals and Dreyer was full of praise for his defensive performance. "Patty was excellent. That happened really early and for Pat to go back, I thought he outplayed his opponent at centre half back. He is a good player the big fella (Stephenson)," he said. 

Griffith will make their first finals appearance since going down to the Tigers in the 2019 Riverina League grand final and they will take in what is almost a completely different side. (The Daily Advertiser - Monday August 21, 2023). 

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Reserves: Griffith 6.4 (40) def by Wagga Tigers 8.14 (62) 
Goals - K Ruyg 2, R Matheson, M Cudmore, M Ashcroft, J Whitworth 
Best players - R Malone, J Crowe, C Harrison, R Matheson, J Whitworth, M Cudmore
Griffith: Cameron Harrison, Richard Malone, Michael Agnew; Michael Cudmore, Luke DeMamiel, Sam Irvin; Max Vardanega, Reece Matheson, Ben Signor; Darcy McDermott, Sam Robinson, Archie Ray; Kieran Ruyg, Connor Bock, Lou Irvine; James Treweeke, Jordan Crowe, Jordan Whitworth; Rowan Patey, James Rogerson, Mason Ashcroft, Willem Vaessen. 
Griffith umpire: Mark Tyndall
Other matches - SAT: Leeton-Whitton 1.0 (6) def by Collingullie-GP 17.16 (118), Mangoplah-CUE 3.5 (23) def by Coolamon Rovers 13.11 (89), Narrandera 2.9 (21) def by Turvey Park 20.18 (138), Ganmain-GGM, bye. 

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Under 17.5: Griffith 5.0 (30) def by Wagga Tigers 6.10 (46)
Goals - A Forwood 2, B Evans 2, B Aloisi
Best players - B Aloisi, B Summers, Z Connor, B Kenny, W Vaessen, S Culgan
Griffith: Lucas Stevenson, Bede Kenny, Xavier Connor; Riley Andreazza, Willem Vaessen, Sean Culgan; Zac Spiers, Oliver Young, Jai Andreazza; Archie Forwood, Blake Aloisi, Isaac Conlan; Lau Tietie, Alex Minato, Beau Cooper; Brody Summers, Mason Salvestro, Tom Jamieson; Billy Evans, Xavier Quarisa, Ryan Irvin, James Naseby, Alex Stopic.
Griffith umpire: Ron Irvin
Other matches - SAT: Leeton-Whitton 25.10 (160) def Collingullie-GP 0.2 (2), Mangoplah-CUE 9.8 (62) def Coolamon Rovers 5.7 (37), Narrandera 3.3 (21) def by Turvey Park 15.12 (102), Ganmain-GGM, bye. 

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NETBALL vs Wagga Tigers: A Grade: won 49-31, A Reserve: won 50-24, B Grade: won 44-38, C Grade: won 46-30, U17: lost 42-45.