Former Griffith coach, Will Griggs, believes there's been a remarkable improvement in the standard of football in the Riverina League in recent years.
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Griggs is heading back to Queanbeyan next year after five seasons playing with the Swans.
He said he's noticed a significant change since arriving in 2015.
"It's definitely improved from the first year I was there," Griggs said.
"It was a more contested, slower game.
"Once we got that influx of players probably three or four years ago and different coaches, they've really ramped up the pace of the game.
"It's a lot quicker and a lot more skilful, and errors seem to hurt you a lot more. It's come along a lot.
"It's more appealing now to approach players and try to get recruits so that's very good for the league I think."
Griggs was a regular in Griffith's best in his first three years (27 times in 51 games). In 2018 he was coach of the year, and took the club to consecutive grand finals.
The heart-breaking losses were the big disappointments.
It was a two-point loss to Collingullie-Glenfield Park in 2018, despite a huge Swans comeback. The following year, they were unable to stop Wagga Tigers in the second half, as they slipped away to a 20-point win.
"You never want to lose the big one after a gruelling year," he said.
With no football in Griffith this year, Griggs won his second senior flag with Queanbeyan as a travelling player (he also had success at the Tigers in 2012) and enjoyed the chance to play at his home club.
"It was great seeing all the old faces and the new ones as well, seeing how far the club's come," he said.
"I knew I'd end up there at some stage but when that would happen, I wasn't quite sure... the COVID thing just moved things a bit quicker."
He'll take fond memories of Griffith when he leaves, probably in late January.
"It's a different scene to Canberra but I've enjoyed it," he said.
"I'll definitely be coming back every now and again to catch up with some of the boys and have a beer with them over the next few years.
"It's been really good."
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