Round 18 - Saturday August 20, 2005
Riverina Football League
Venue: Gumly Oval 2.10pm
Umpires: ----
Eastern Hawks ..... 5.5 .. 8.9 .. 14.11 .. 21.16 (142)
Griffith .................... 1.2 .. 1.6 .. 3.8 .. 6.13 (49)
EASTERN HAWKS: Jay Peace, Damien Cheney, Jamie Keenan; Joel Grieve, Kaine Malone, Marc Adams; Levi Pollett, Daniel Purtill, Luke Adams; Brenton Roberts, Phillip Evans, Patrick Gribble; Michael McPherson, Ben Perkins, Ryan Campbell; Ken Vanderfeen, Danny Bromham, Darren Cuthbert; David Vanderfeen, Clint Campbell, Troy Barrett 
GRIFFITH: Myles Bunn, Adam Brander, Roger Heenan; Josh Ward, Simon Spiers, Jeff Mickan; Ben Ford, Matt Bunn (capt.), Graham Foley; Craig Conlan, Matthew Kenny, Rodney Duncan; Ashley Gardner, David Curran, Mathew Crack; Michael Wilson, Matthew McDonald, Michael Duncan; Rodney Simpkin, Trent Bradley, Nic Hetherington 
GOALS
Eastern Hawks: B Perkins 11, D Vanderfeen 5, P Evans 2, B Roberts, D Cheney
Griffith: D Curran, R Simpkin, Matt Bunn, A Brander, M Duncan, M Crack
BEST PLAYERS
Eastern Hawks: B Perkins, K Vanderfeen, D Cuthbert, D Purtill, P Evans, B Roberts
Griffith: M Duncan, Matt Bunn, G Foley, R Simpkin, J Ward, R Heenan
A summary of match report, with thanks
Griffith Swans' premiership aspirations were dealt a hefty blow while Eastern Hawks were left to rue what could have been at Gumly Oval on Saturday. Hawks were so superior it seemed ridiculous that the Swans were regarded as serious premiership contenders, while their opposition will watch the finals from the sidelines after marching to victory over Griffith 21.16 (142) to 6.13 (49).

The Hawks were still a chance of making the five if Mangoplah-CUE had beaten Leeton-Whitton, but the Goannas stumbled. So, amid the pleasure of thumping such a strong outfit and the rapturous celebrations that followed Hawks full forward Ben Perkins kicking his 100th goal for the season, there was still a feeling of disappointment. The Hawks have turned into a very formidable unit over the past five weeks and on current form would have provided a much bigger threat in the finals than the Crows will.

They were instead left to ponder how a team with such talent could miss the finals. "It's just an unfortunate set of circumstances but it is ridiculous to be relying on another team to lose six or seven in a row for us to get in," Hawks assistant-coach Pat Gribble said.

"We should never have been in this position considering the quality we have here, and it is even more disappointing to have a win like that over a team who will play finals." The Hawks dominated the ruck, the clearances, possessions, inside 50's and every other aspect of the game against the Swans, who were made to look second rate. Perkins was at his best, needing nine goals to break the magic ton in as season and by quarter time he had already had five of those and after that the Swans were never in the game.

Fifteen minutes after the game had finished, Swans coach Adrian Burns could still be heard through the walls of the change room spitting invective at his team. (The Area News - Monday August 22, 2005).

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OTHER MATCHES - SAT: Coolamon 7.11 (53) def by Narrandera 12.4 (76), Mangoplah-CUE 9.11 (65) def by Leeton-Whitton 15.10 (100); SUN: Turvey Park 9.4 (58) def by Ganmain-GGM 24.19 (163)

Reserves: Griffith 26.13 (169) def Eastern Hawks 2.6 (18)
Goals: G Argus 17, J Bennett 3, W Tyndall, T Wilson, D Graham, K Duncan, H Robertson, M Burke
Best players: G Argus, A Cappello, G Dreyer, D Best, J Bennett, K Duncan
Under 18: Eastern Hawks 11.16 (82) def Griffith 0.3 (3)
Best players: J Smith, C Munro, D McGreal, T Matheson, J Poscoliero, C Goff