KEY MAN: Griffith’s John Evans wil be out to help his side defeat MCUE tomorrow at Narrandera. Picture: Anthony Stipo
WHILE much of the side will not be able to drive themselves to the game tomorrow, the experience in the Griffith Swans under 17s belies their birth certificates, according to co-coach Matt Noonan.
With a host of junior representative stars and players who have had first grade experience this year, the sudden-death semi-final against Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes should not pose any problems in terms of nerves.
"A lot of them have played rep footy over the years, so it bodes well for them having cool heads in pressure situations, but also for their knowledge of the game," Noonan said.
Griffith has not tasted success against the Goannas this season, but was missing some of the big names last start including John Evans, Tom West, Ben Tarr and Tom Shannon, who were all out with school commitments.
"I think they'll know those guys will be back in the side, but the beauty of us being so far away from the Wagga side is that they don't have a huge knowledge about us apart from the couple of games they have played against us," Noonan said.
"But in saying that we know what is coming at us from them.
"We just need to get the boys' attitude right and get them to put on the kind of pressure they did last week."
Fleet-footed forward Nick Witherspoon will have his tail up tomorrow, having bagged four goals in his side's 27-point win against the Bulldogs.
It was not just the number of majors by Witherspoon, but when he was able to score them that helped his side.
"What we've been doing with him over the past six or sevens weeks, with his pace, we've been sitting him in the forward line and keeping it nice and open," Noonan said of Witherspoon.
"Because we know if the ball is put out in front of him he's going to make most contests pretty easily in front of his opponent because he's got that speed advantage.
"They were important goals the ones he got last week we put it out in front of him and he was able to run onto it.
"He probably missed two or three he ordinarily would have kicked, but he shares the footy as well.
"And that's something we've really tired to drum into the boys this year to be unselfish that it doesn't matter how we kick them, if one guy kicks 17 or 17 guys kick a goal each."
Daniel Peruzzi, Tom Shannon, Dylan Evans, Ben Tarr and Jordan Burley also showed excellent form for the Swans last weekend and will be vital components if Griffith is to move on to the next round.
The Swans will name a full-strength side for the clash, which begins at 9.30am tomorrow at Narrandera Sportsground.