The Riverina League season hasn’t started yet but the early signs look good for the Griffith Swans.
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The Swans sent two teams to East Wagga on the weekend for a pre-season camp which included matches against the East Wagga-Kooringal Hawks.
The twos claimed a 44-36 win while the seniors cruised to a 106-33 victory.
“We came into East Wagga and showed we’re on the right track,” Griffith Swans director of coaching Adrian Pavese said.
The Swans fielded a different side to their final match from last season and Pavese said the new recruits slid into the lineup well with goal-machine Brent Arho living up to his reputation.
“They were good,” Pavese said of the new and returning players.
“We had guys like Toby Blissett and Luke Shannon returning home and they all showed they’ll have class for us this year.
“Brent Arho ended up kicking about eight for the day...that makes a big difference.”
The most pleasing aspect of the game for Pavese was how the Swans closed it out.
“The amount of footy we had in that last quarter, I think we kicked six goals to none, and we only had three or four turnovers for the quarter,” Pavese said.
“Something that cost us a lot last year was our turnovers. So I’m pleased with that.”
Along with the matches, the side’s leadership group was chosen at the camp.
James Toscan was reappointed as captain while Ben King, Jono Gastin and Toby Blissett make up the leadership group.
The future of the club was also sounded out in emerging leaders Sam Foley, Dan Peruzzi and Luke Shannon.
“They’ve shown signs they’re going to be leaders in their own right one day,” Pavese said.
“We’re trying to develop the next breed of captains.
"We want everyone to have that mindset that it’s not a matter of just throwing the jumper on, it’s about creating a legacy for future generations.
“When the elder statesmen move on, these younger guys coming through will have the same ethics and philosophy."
The Swans will take two senior sides to the Barellan Sportsground this weekend as the clubs continue to build a strong relationship.
One side will play Barellan at 12pm while another will face Gungahlin at 2pm.
The club will hold a junior club night next Wednesday where the senior players and coaches will help out the junior players and coaches at training.
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