Classy Griffith midfielder Jordan Iudica is more concerned about bouncing back in Sunday’s preliminary final than what will take place at the Jim Quinn Medal on Tuesday night.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Iudica will head into the Riverina League vote count as a hot favourite on the back of a runaway victory in the Player of the Year award, voted weekly by coaches.
The left-footer polled 51 votes to win by a record margin of 24.
“The coach’s award, it was very pleasing to get that,” Iudica said.
“I think with our team, we’ve obviously had a lot of success, winning all our games in the home and away season and that obviously means we’ve had a lot of good players. I think a few of us will get votes and it will be pretty even across the board.
“Obviously there are a lot of good players in the competition like Riley Corbett, the Klemke brothers, Jacob Olsson, there’s plenty of good players there so I’m not expecting too much.”
Iudica, 25, is in his third season at Griffith and makes the weekly eight hour round trip from Canberra to play with the Swans.
While happy enough with his season, Iudica is determined to make sure it does not end on Sunday when they face Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong in the preliminary final.
“It’s been good just to play consistent footy,” he said.
“I’ve spent a lot of time in the midfield this year, I’ve spent more minutes in there so more opportunity to find the ball and have a bigger impact, which is good.
“It all doesn’t matter if we produce the same performance as last Saturday. It was our biggest game to date and we put in individually our worst games but I’m confident we can bounce back.
“I’m definitely not going to shy away from the fact we wanted to win and be in the grand final. Waking up Monday morning was not how I thought I’d feel.
“Looking at the positives now though, we get to play continuous footy. Some people would have questioned whether two games in four weeks, is that what you want to do. Obviously it’s the way you want to progress but now our guys will get the chance to have continuity, hit form and hopefully get into the big dance."
One of Iudica’s main dangers in the vote count, GGGM ruckman Jacob Olsson, is ineligible due to suspension, as is Wagga Tigers coach Shaun Campbell and Turvey Park counterpart Truman Carroll.
SELECTIONS
Matt Malone
1 Jordan Iudica (Griffith)
2 Matt Rainbird (Leeton)
3 Tom Keogh (MCUE)
Peter Doherty
1 Jordan Iudica (Griffith)
2 Riley Corbett (GGGM)
3 Tom Keogh (MCUE)
READ MORE
