The Griffith Swans have notched up two wins from two matches and sit atop the Riverina Football League ladder but director of coaching Adrian Pavese believes this weekend will be the side’s toughest challenge yet.
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The Swans take on RFL heavyweights, the Leeton-Whitton Crows, on Saturday at the Leeton Showground on Saturday.
The Crows will be bolstered by former Hawthorn premiership winner Brian Lake whilst several Swans are in doubt for the clash after picking up injuries last week against a tough Coolamon outfit.
Kyle Lynch (fractured finger) will miss four-five weeks, Andrew Cappello (hamstring strain) will miss a week whilst Alex Birch (calf strain) and Alex Blissett will be racing the clock to be fit for the clash.
Despite the losses, Pavese said he has the depth to win the match.
“Leeton are touted as premiership favourite, it’s a tough gig but we’ll go there with the expectation that we can win,” Pavese said.
“We were hit pretty hard last week but the ressies and the 17s are playing well.
Leeton are touted as premiership favourite, it’s a tough gig but we’ll go there with the expectation that we can win.
- Griffith Swans director of coaching Adrian Pavese
“We’ve promoted all summer that we are one club.
“The ressies and 17s teams are playing the same structure so there's no problem with confidence in bringing someone in.”
The Swans have enjoyed a strong start but Pavese wants more from his side.
Bad habits crept in last week when fatigue set in but the positives still outweighed the negatives.
“Our best is very, very good but our worst is very poor. We need to close the gap,” Pavese said.
“A positive was how quickly the team can adapt and fight back.
“I think normally when we were challenged in the past we’d fall over but on the weekend we didn’t.
“That’s a great thing to have, that resilience.
“The more close games you can perform well in, and hopefully win, gives you that confidence that no matter what town you’re at, you can win.”
Like last week with Adam Schneider, Pavese said his side wouldn’t focus too much on Lake.
“We’ll have a plan for Brian Lake but we’ll have a plan for Jade Hodge, their back pocket and forward pocket,” Pavese said.
The game starts at 2.30pm.
