GRIFFITH’s quest for an elusive Riverina League premiership has been boosted by the return of Toby Blissett just days before the June 30 clearance deadline.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Swans have lodged a clearance for Blissett to return to Griffith as the club looks to end a decade-long absence from finals.
Blissett played 11 senior games for Albury Tigers in their 2014 premiership year before going down with a knee injury after signing with Hume League club Jindera last season.
The 21-year-old is yet to return from a knee reconstruction but the Swans hope to add Blissett to their line-up in time for finals.
“We hope so, he wants to come home,” Griffith director of coaching Adrian Pavese said.
“His knee is fine but he hasn’t tested it so there will be no pressure or expectations on him. He’s a local boy so he’s just looking forward to getting back around his mates and school friends.
“It wouldn’t worry me if he didn’t play a senior game leading into finals, he would be a fairly handy inclusion at the back end of the year.
“He has to play three games to quality and we have eight games left.
“He's a pretty exciting footballer so I don’t think it will take him that long to get back on the bike.”
Blissett established himself as a quality midfielder while at Albury, who also had the ability to kick goals when resting forward.
Blissett will get the chance to play alongside younger brother Alex, who has impressed in his first season back at their junior club.
“It adds to that strong culture we’re building,” Pavese said.
In further good news for the third-placed Swans, key defender James Taylor is set to return from injury for his first game of the year on Saturday.
Key forward Alex Birch will also return for his first game in a month when the Swans tackle Turvey Park at Maher Oval.
Experienced footballers Myles and Matt Bunn have also returned to training.
