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1979 SEASON
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GRIFFITH NOTES: "The Sou'wester" July 8, 1979 - No. 12

By Swan: Whilst we may not have deserved to win last Sunday at Ariah Park, we did not deserve to have our chances completely humbled when we allowed the Bombers to pour on 10 of their 20 goals for the game, kicked in the last quarter.

Peter Matuska, with his big marking and strength at centre half forward, was our best and Kel Turner continued with the great form he has shown this season.

We again continue to be short of match winning players, but we owed much to the continual striving of Nifty Brand in the ruck and the fine defensive games from Peter Carey, Sid Robins and Ian Wade.

Mark Newton may have kicked eight goals for the day but four of these came in the final session when the Bombers had us down. Until that stage, Stephen Best at fullback had done as much as any other player this year to contain Newton, in our opinion the best full forward in the League.

Our Reserve grade waited until coach Kevin Kirkpatrick stung them with a verbal blast before responding in their fight back for their three goals win - a win that would not impress many but satisfying to us in our present lack of player strength.

Our real joy at Ariah Park was the lift in enthusiasm shown by our Under 19's. We have had real problems in this area, but our boys gave us a lot of delight last Sunday and fully deserved their exciting four points win.

Notes No. 13 >>>

Jack Luhrs' spotlight on 'Rules'

This column would like to introduce a new face and name to Australian football journalism.
The name is very well known in the area, and I believe will also be well known as a capable commentator in the football world.
I refer to Beres Sexton, the son of well-known South West League footballer and umpire, Len Sexton.
In introducing Beres the new author of Australian football in The Area News, I am also announcing my retirement from the field.
For no other reason that the fact I have been doing it almost continually for 26 years, having served four newspapers in that time, it is right and proper another new person comes on the scene.
Beres already has been before the sporting public with his articles on well-known sportsmen in the Griffith area.
I believe his style will attract many readers.
His first article will appear in Friday's issue when he previews the South West League meeting between Griffith and Ganmain.
I hope his association with The Area News will be as rewarding as has mine and I want to wish him well in his new venture.

The Swans will honour Sid Robins when he runs out against Leeton on the Ex-Servicemen's Oval on August 19 in his 300th appearance for the club.
Sid has had a remarkable football career in which he captured the South West League Gammage medal and has been four times winner of the Swans Club best and fairest.
Few players have contributed as much to football and to the Griffith club as has "Bones".
He has attracted innumerable admirers and at his peak, was regarded as the best centre half back in the league.
Some of his great battles have been against top players and the one that stands clear in my mind was his great duels with Ganmain coach Frank Hodgkin in the days when Griffith and Ganmain fought out close to the best team contests of any combination in the South West League.
Sid Robins is still doing his bit for Griffith and last Sunday, he rated among the Swans' best players in their very disappointing showing against Turvey Park.
Sid has played the game because he has so much love for the code and from his many years in the game has never placed demands on his club.
To my mind he has no peer and when the magic 300 comes up against Leeton, I know there will not be one single person who will not refuse to join in acclaiming Sid Robins as a great contributor to the Australian game of football.

Under 19 years coach Len Threlfall has plenty of smiles after last Sunday's showing against Turvey Park.
Although his side was beaten, Len was full of praise for his charges.
"We have had our problems but now we have turned the corner and we will beat the best of them in the future," he said.
Len has seen a remarkable improvement in training attendances and the enthusiasm of his players has been much more obvious.
Their game against the Bulldogs deserved a better result but the Swans have a chance to strike back when they meet the same side next Sunday on the Ex-Servicemen's Oval prior to the reserve grade game between Griffith and Ganmain.
It is not too late for the Swans to reach an even greater triumph by capturing the premiership at the end of the season.

(The Area News - Wednesday July 11, 1979)