Griffith’s chances of going one better in next year’s Riverina League competition have been boosted by the re-signing of premier midfielder Jordan Iudica.
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The Swans went through this year’s home and away season undefeated only to fall to Collingullie-Glenfield Park by two points in the grand final.
Griffith feared the grand final may have been Iudica’s last game for the club after three years of travelling from Canberra but the classy midfielder has committed to another season at the Swans.
Iudica won Griffith’s best and fairest for the second time this year, and was named Riverina League’s Player of the Year, as voted each week by coaches.
He was a big part of the Swans’ climb to their first grand final appearance in 14 years and Griffith coach Will Griggs is stoked Iudica is staying.
“The boys are pretty excited by that,” Griggs said.
“That was our main priority. We were waiting to get him on board before we started chasing anyone else.
“It was pretty important, especially when you’ve got someone like Nathan Richards coming in, that’s going to make our midfield a bit more potent now. Riley (Irvin) did a great job but he was better around the ground. We expect Nathan will be pretty dominant in the ruck and give (Jacob Olsson) a shake up.”
Richards is Griffith’s only new signing as they go about trying to retain the majority of their squad from this season.
They are set to lose young guns Sam Foley and Riley Irvin to university, while Heath Northey looks set to depart to Sydney due to employment.
“We knew we were losing Riley and Sam since about halfway through the year,” he said.
“Losing Heath is a bit of a shame but that’s life.”
Griffith’s main priority at the moment is re-signing midfielder Ben King, who juggled fly in, fly out work commitments this season.
The Swans will begin pre-season training next month, a later start than previous years.
“We’re having an extra two or three weeks off,” Griggs explained.
“A few of the boys are pretty eager to get back into it and have already started doing a bit but I think it’s important to have a good break. We’ll start in December.”
Griggs is looking forward to working with a number of the club’s promising juniors next season.
“They showed this year that if you back them a little bit, it can do wonders,” he said.
“There’s a lot of good kids coming through our 15s and 17s.”
One teenager Griggs is looking forward to blooding is Blake Argus, who missed this year due to knee surgeries.
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