Jayden Klemke heads into Sunday’s elimination final at Ganmain as the Riverina League’s premier player in the eyes of coaches but he says his form in the home-and-away season will be as irrelevant as the fact that the Swans limp in on the back of two losses.
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The Collingullie-Glenfield Park midfielder was a runaway winner of the AFL Riverina Player of the Year award but is ruling a line under all that’s come before finals as the Demons launch their premiership defence from fifth spot for the second year in a row.
“It’s like a new season, I reckon,” Klemke said.
“My focus is just on finals now, working with the team and working our way through it week by week.
“We’re all starting to gel together and it’s probably our strongest team.”
That’s in contrast to the Swans, who finished the regular season with back-to-back losses to Mangoplah-Cookardinia United- Eastlakes and Wagga Tigers.
“The last two weeks means nothing, finals are completely different,” Klemke said.
“It’s going to be very tough, probably our most physical game of the year – they’re probably the most physical side we’ve played, with guys like Mick Duncan and Guy Orton.”
Klemke said the return of Jordan Iudica from a hamstring injury is a big in for Griffith.
“He played very well when we played them (at Collingullie), he’s very classy,” Klemke said.
And the pint-sized Ben King – who played with Klemke’s brother at Queanbeyan – could have a big influence.
“I’ve known him for a few years now, he’s a tough little nut and he’ll be very hard to stop.”
King (20 votes) and Iudica (29 votes) both finished in the top eight in the Player of the Year award, which is a tally of coaches’ votes at the end of each round.
But Klemke was a standout with 47 votes, from Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong forward James Lawton (30).
He polled the maximum six votes in six games, and registered votes in 12 of his 16 appearances.
The 21-year old plays with a maturity and consistency beyond his years. And with a continued focus on fitness and speed, he’s tried to become as damaging an outside player as he can be on the inside.
Klemke said the form of ruckman Tom Keogh has helped his own game this year., He’s also enjoyed teaming up with brother Matt who, coincidentally, was the Demons’ best in their round 14 win over Griffith.
“I’ve really enjoyed playing with Matty this year – I’ve never played with him before and he’s been really good,” Klemke said.
