Mathews joins former Turvey Park coach, Chris Cerato, and ex-Swans assistant, Tom Groves, in making the move from Griffith, while the Blues have also held on to their outgoing coach, Mitch Carroll, as a player.

Mathews is backing the rookie coach, saying he was excited to be swapping roles with Hamilton – whom he lured to Griffith from Lavington last season.

“He’ll be good, he’s pretty switched on and he knows his footy,” Mathews said.

“He sets a pretty high standard for himself so to get a coach like that, it’ll be good.”

Mathews’ departure from the Swans was no surprise after he was relieved of coaching duties following two seasons in charge.

But he declined to respond to recent comments from Swans president, Jeff Harris, criticising Coleambally’s recruitment of Griffith players. 

Coleambally president, Shane Mannes, also left the issue alone saying he didn’t want to be drawn into a public tit-for-tat.

Mathews insists his focus is on looking forward, saying he was impressed by the atmosphere at the club, where he has a few former Lavington teammates.

“Josh going out there was a big part of me going… and I played with Mitch (Carroll) in Albury, and with Tony and Dean Pound back in Albury,” he said.

“So there’s a connection there and in the end I thought it was a pretty good way to finish up, playing with some mates.

“They’re a great club – they can’t do enough for you and they’ve got a good family culture out there.

“They’re on the way up.”

The 33-year old expects 2016 to be his last season of football but it mightn’t be his easiest. 

Hamilton has kicked off the Blues’ pre-season this week, with a month of twice-weekly sessions planned until Christmas.

“Unfortunately I was sitting on a header last night,” Mathews said with a laugh.