GRIFFITH Swans coach Guy Orton has hailed his team's attack at the football after Saturday's trial match loss to visiting Ovens & Murray League outfit Corowa-Rutherglen.

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With the new Riverina Football League season little more than a month away, Orton said the fruits of a new pre-season regime are starting to show with a committed, physical performance in his side's first practice match.

The scoreline was never a concern indeed, scores were not even recorded but the coach insisted there was plenty to build from.

"I asked the boys to go in as hard as they could and they did that. Our tackling pressure and attack on the footy was sensational," he said.

"Our strength work with Arch (new fitness coach Andrew Cullen) is starting to show people stood up and held their ground in the tackle instead of going down straight away. The guys feel a lot stronger, they can deal with that.

"In saying that, we probably overused the footy a couple of times but it's our first trial of the pre-season and it was always going to be scratchy."

The Swans' new-look defence, featuring recruits Richard Malone and Lance Poka in key position roles, held up well but Orton said the team broke down across the half-forward line.

"Once we'd go inside 50 there were no crumbers, so if we didn't mark the ball it went to ground," he said.

"Corowa are a very good side and their short-kicking game was a bit hard to deal with at times, so there's a few things like our zone that we've got to work on.

"But we went pretty well I didn't give the boys any structures for the game at all, I just told them to go out there and have a bit of fun. I was very happy overall."

Orton also singled out Gaelic football convert Niall McGovern for praise, with the Irishman impressing in his first outing with the Sherrin.

"He showed some really good signs and a lot of courage, taking a few grabs going back into the pack," he said.

"He just needs to get a bit more of a feel for the rules but he's looking good."