ONE SEASON TO FORGET 

 By "The Man on the Fence" 

Match report - April 5: The opening round games of the Riverina League competition for 2025 season commenced on Saturday last, under perfect weather conditions. Since last season Griffith, through varies reasons, have lost many of their players, and club officials have a big task in trying to unearth local talent to fill the vacant places. Sam Foley captained the local side, whilst Collingullie-Wagga were guided by Shane Lenon from the sideline and Nick Perryman on the field. The visitors who were last year's premiers, were strongly represented and fully expected to record their first victory of the season against Griffith.
As soon as the ball was bounced the Gullie' side set up a bombardment on the Swans' sticks and scored 30 points to a one flag score for the first term. The game looked quite safe for the Demons at the half time change leading by 41-points, and so it proved.
During the third quarter, Red and White's made a determined effort and succeeded in scoring three goals and four behinds but was still down by 51 points at the last charge over. The visitors settled down to business in the final quarter and rattled up five goals five behinds. while their opponents adding 1 goal 2 behinds and the final siren sounded with Collingullie-Wagga the winners of an entertaining and hard-fought game by 78 points. COYS.

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Match report - April 12: As anticipated, the Coolamon Rovers had an easy win over Griffith on Saturday last and, with few exceptions, made them look like second raters. It was Swans off day, and the Hoppers took full advantage of such under-manned opposition and scored with sickening frequency, running out winners by 163 points to 9. On Saturday's display, Griffith has no chance of climbing off from the bottom place of the premiership ladder. The Swans, who were without five of their regulars, including Ollie Bartter (concussion protocol), and key defenders Sam Foley and Willem Vaessen (on injured list), did not give themselves much chance of success, although fully expected to make a game of it.

In this they were not far astray as until about five minutes of play through the first quarter the Swans were well in the limelight. Griffith this season has a team composed of mainly local boys, for the most part young and keen on the game and club officials are confident when they have had a few games together and gained a little more experienced, the Swans will not be found easy prey. COYS

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Match report - April 26: On Saturday last, Griffith were at home to Wagga Tigers, and with captain Sam Foley, Willem Vaessen and Ollie Bartter back strengthening the team from that which took a real hammering against Coolamon Rovers the previous week. The Swans were hopeful of recording their first four points of the season, but with the exception of several spasmodic opening term efforts, gave supporters another inglorious display. Murray Stephenson was the Tigers hero of the match, scoring ten goals, mostly from somewhere near the centre of the ground. Every member of the winning team was at his top, and if Adrian Pavese's boys can maintain their form they may quiet easily find a place in the top five come finals time. For our Swans the latest loss cannot be taken to be the end of the world as next weekend opponent are old friendly foes from Narrandera town. Since the "blue and gold" boys last won the 2012 premiership their results when playing Griffith are not the greatest read - 2 victories from 22 starts. Beware Swannies! The Eagles are moving forward as a club and taking them lightly will be at your peril. COYS.

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Match report - May 3: Griffith Swans journeyed to Narrandera on Saturday last and after a hard-fought contest "broke the ice" defeating Narrandera Imperial by 58 points to 40. Mark 'Curl' Carroll was again entrusted with the handling of the Eagles and flushed with victory over Leeton-Whitton the previous Saturday took the field full of confidence. The visitors, under the guidance of Greg 'Fifty' Dreyer, however, made no secret of the fact that they were sweet on their chances of again putting one over the wearers of the Blue and Gold. The day was simply made to order for sport, the morning being sunny and warm, while the afternoon's later starting time enough to keep the temperature just right for the players. As anticipated the play was keen from the first bounce to the final whistle.
Narrandera winning the choice of goals kicked to the northern end, but there was little benefit from the choice as there was no wind, whilst the playing arena was its usual best. Narrandera started off well and opened with immediate success two behind kicked by Stirling Kable and were probably unlucky in not getting a goal, because the third behind kicked by Josh Boag hit the goal post.
The away team then sparkled, and after goal by Bailey Morrissey, was followed by a sixer from the same player's boot. After a period of even play Sam Severin and Darcy Mimmo scored goals for the Eagles before the close of the term. And at the first change Narrandera led by four points - 2-4 to 2-0. Griffith picked up in the second quarter and played with more dash and led their supporters for the belief that they would emerge victorious. In this term Griffith put on 4 goals Brady Colvin, Bede Kenny, Bailey Morrissey, Ben Dinning and one behind.
Whereas Narrandera notched two goals at the 25th (Blake Renet and Andrew Beal) at 30th minute of a quarter that lasted an astonishing 12 minutes of added time. Half-time scores Narrandera, 4-5; Griffith, 6-1. In the third term Griffith yielded two goals through Bede Kenny and Kahlan Spencer and 2 behinds to their score, as against five behinds gained by the home team. Third quarter ended with Narrandera's teenager Oliver Hutchins good long kick striking the goal post. Scores, Narrandera, 4-10; Griffith, 8-3.
Griffith turned to home in the final term with a useful lead of 17 points, but the Eagles were fighting doggedly, and it was anyone's game. The locals made an onslaught of Griffith's sticks, but the best they could do was to gain a few miserly points by rushed shots. Then at the 12th minute Griffith turned defence into attack and the ball came back via the grandstand wing and Kahlan Spencer put the ball up over the advancing Eagles defenders for Jordan Virago to gather and dash into an open goal. The resultant kick gave the Swans their ninth goal and decided the match, as although Narrandera fought on till the end the Red and Whites had their measure and won by 18 points.
Naturally the supporters of Griffith were elated over the team's success and are now very hopeful that the Red and Whites will reproduce their form against Ganmain-GGM next Saturday. But unfortunately, may have do it without Luke DeMamiel (ankle), Charlie Cunial and Brady Colvin (shoulder injuries), all three players sitting out the last quarter on the bench. COYS.

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Match report - May 10: Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong Lions journeyed to "channel and chook" country on Saturday last, to play the Griffith Swans. On previous occasions when the teams met on the grand old Ex-Servicemen's Oval, the games have been evenly contested, and close and exciting finishes have often happened. Saturday's game was just the opposite, as far as a close, evenly contested game was concerned. One team, however, was much weaker than that from the past years, but few expected such a terrible drubbing. 
It was so disappointing for players and supporters as the Red and Whites can usually be expected to provide something in the nature of fireworks when they met their old rivals. And on top of everything else the 150-point debacle amounted to the greatest ever defeat by a Griffith first grade team when playing on their own home ground. COYS.

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Match report - June 14: The main game between Griffith and Turvey Park at Exies Oval on Saturday afternoon last resulted in a win for the visitors by 20 goals or so. For Swans supporters it was just one of those grey days when one keeps thinking that there are more taxes than free drinks these days. The game was cleanly fought, there being no unsportsmanlike incidents to mar the play. Turvey held a handy lead during the first term, 35 to 7, and on the actual play the margin should have been much greater, but it was in the second session, when the visiting Bulldogs practically took full control and slammed on 7 goals 1 behind to a solitary goal and 1 behind scored by the Swans' that Griffith's, hopes of success fell to zero. In the third and fourth quarters the Red and Whites tried hard to retrieve their lost ground, but they found the away side carrying too many guns and went down like the Titanic with 117 points on the debit side.

There were no passengers among the winners as the whole team was at its best, but Ethan Weidemann (5 goals) and Andrew Emery (6 goals) was the outstanding players of the game. Griffith were simply not good enough on the day and was best served by Kahlan Spencer but with a few exceptions all tried hard. COYS. 

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Match report - June 21: This current football season has been a succession of disappointments for Griffith Swans supporters and the latest match at Crossroads Oval, was only another chapter in the sad story. In fact, supporters are now reduced to a stoicism from which only a victory will arouse them, and if the team does taste of success again before the season closes, it will be open to question whether supporters will be able to withstand the shock. Griffith players awaited the game with Collingullie-Wagga Demons on Saturday last with little degree of hope of ever winning the game. It transpired that the fears of Red and White supporters that another defeat was in store for them was well founded. While the Griffith boys fought it right out to the bitter end, Gullie, of course, were simply too skilled, winning by 138 points.
It seems everything gone wrong - the senior leadership team is undermanned, and the majority of the players are below the required standard. This is no doubt a sweeping indictment, but unless the facts be faced the club cannot be rebuilt to take its place were its splendid history entitles it to be. An effort should be made to secure for next season's senior committee the services of some old players (not necessarily those on the age pension) who knew the game and who helped to bring it to its present-day eminence. COYS.

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Match report - July 5 : Although they are having a run of misfortune, Griffith still draw a fair gathering of loyal supporters at Exies Oval last Saturday to see how the locals would fare against the Coolamon Rovers. Once again, the result proved that the Red and Whites are not yet up to Riverina League standard, carrying too many first season players and not enough experience. 
As to the match the Coolamon team was a strong one. Griffith had, however, made two team changes, Archie Forwood making way to provide a place for Zachary Spiers, and Bede Kenny due to the late withdrawal of Blake Aloisi (injury). The game can be easily told, for on this occasion Swans luck deserted them. With the exception of the final quarter, when Griffith were seen at their brightest, the rest of the game was certainly in Coolamon's favor. From the Swans point of view, it was a most disappointing display, for at no stage did they look like winning, the final siren finding them 159 points in arrears. At half time Coolamon had 12.10 up as against 0.3.  The third term found 'Hoppers in their best form, and the result would give them a lead of 138 points at the final change. Griffith held their own in the final quarter's opening ten minutes of play, but only once did they get the ball down, and scored the maximum points, through a brilliant Kahlan Spencer solo effort. Umpire's Tough and Tilston display left much to be desired, more so the latter. COYS.

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Match report - July 12: The weather last Saturday was all in the favor of a good game of footy for the meeting of the Lions and Swans in their 100th outing since the amalgamation of Ganmain and Grong Grong-Matong clubs in 1982. It was generally considered that GGGM would win, and the gathering was not so large as it would have been had the contestants been more evenly matched. It was noticeable that some of the injured and out of form men were absent from the visitors' team, amongst them being Bill Evans, Archie Ray, Jordan Crowe, Lachlan Wallace and "The Rooster" Reece Matheson, the latter enhanced his selection of first grade redemption with a 5-star display in the two's.
The toss of the coin resulted in favor of the Swans happy-go-lucky captain Sam Foley, and they kicked towards the northern goals as there was a fair wind blowing in that direction.
They commenced by attacking and first blood for the visitors, Bailey Morrissey with a snapshot hoisted a first goal for the Red and Whites, amidst cheers from their supporters. Oliver Young soon after had a chance to score a goal with his first kick in senior footy but his running shot failed to score more than a minor point. Then Sam Robinson took a chest mark from a Morrissey clever low pass and shot the ball over the goal umpires cap for the Swans second goal. In the teeth of the wind the home side forced the play downfield for Shannon Butterfield and Zachary Burhop to register consecutive goals. On resuming Griffith rallied a little, and Cooper Purtill, and by a free kick notched third goal for Swans with a nice kick. From the bounce the visiting team again took the ball forward and in almost less time to write, Jakob Taylor scored and by good, concerted play the local side added three more goals and the score at quarter time stood: GGGM 6.2 to Griffith 3.1. 
After ends were changed GGGM resumed the attack and soon after Jack Powell marked in good style and posted a goal. Minutes later the same player was quickly at work again and succeeded in registering his second of five goals on the day for the Lions. Griffith endeavored to turn the tide of affairs in their favor, and Mason Rosengreen was successful in piloting the ball through the posts. As the game progressed GGGM had the advantage of the wind, and they made good use of the opportunities to score, no less than three further goals being obtained by them during the second quarter, while the visitors had added one behind to their score. Half-time, GGGM 11.9 to Griffith 4.2. 
Griffith had the best of the play in the third quarter, the team pulling well together with goals coming from Zachary Spiers, his first in senior grade, and a second major for Rosengreen. Had GGGM not being allowed to score four late goals before the three-quarter time hooter sounded the scores would have been much closer than 15.14 to 6.5. 
It was in the last quarter that the visitors had the worst of the play, the home side putting on nine unanswered goals, while the Red and Whites' final term score remain unchanged and were beaten by 120 points. Final scores, GGGM 161 to Griffith 41. Hard luck Swans! Ollie Bartter played the best game on the ground, devilish Jack Neyland, who hurt his leg late in the third term, more than held his own in the ruck duel against Dan Foley and Charlie Cunial, five goals short of his 50th, worked like a trojan in defence. COYS.

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Match report - July 19: After a journey of about 200km, the Griffith Swans footballers, netballers and a small band of loyal supporters found themselves at the Mangoplah Sportsground - a space of 300 by 400 metres, cleared, in a forest of thick scrub, and big timber. There was an entire absence of wind, possibly because wind could not find its way to such a place. Logs piled together to make a big fire, if needed, at the pavilion side of the ground. This was all comforting, and in the vicinity were gathered some 200 spectators. Aged men and women were there, youths and girls of all ages, down to babies in arms. The day was perfect, perhaps the finest Saturday for football and netball we have had this season, and the ground was in first class condition.   
The two teams were there to compete for the second time of the season. On the occasion of the previous meeting, Mangoplah proved victorious at Exies Oval by a slight margin, but it was generally not expected that the tables would be turned on the local's ground. The Swans had, however given it out that they were going to shake things up and give the Goannas a big surprise. However, such was not the case, as the men from MCUE won the match by a goodly margin of 71 points. In fairness to all concerned the Griffith club had adopted the policy this season of paying local men and giving young players every chance of improving by always including them in their team. What result this course of action of finishing up in the final few rounds remains to be proved, but one undoubted advantage accruing from this it is that is endures a team in the future. Tally-ho! COYS.

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Match report - August 16: The meeting of Turvey Park and Griffith at Maher Oval on Saturday last resulted in a 56-point win for the home team. The game drew few supporters (mostly parents) of either side to witness the match. Both teams were well below full-strength, and the utmost good feeling prevailed throughout the game. The home side skipper won the toss and elected to kick to the Rules Club end goal, which gave them the advantage of a fair south-westerly wind blowing. In the first quarter the visitors shaped very well, and it seemed that they would be able to make a fight of it, but at the end of the quarter their opponents had secured a lead of 19 points.
In the second quarter, despite a heavy rain shower, the game was very even, the play being first at one end and directly after at the other, but the red, white and blue had the better of it in the number of points as at the end of the quarter they had a 31-point lead.  The third and fourth quarters the Bulldogs again had the best of the play and added 44 points to the Swans 13. It would be fair to say the play in the game appeared that the teams were evenly matched, and there was some brilliant play on both sides; and it was a good game from the spectators' point of view. The afternoon concluded with the umpire Brian "Pencil" Robinson, in his 500th game of whistle blowing and Griffith coach Greg "Fifty" Dreyer been given a standing ovation by players and spectators as they left the field of play for the final time. COYS. THE LAST POST!