BRING IT ON: Jonathan Evans will lead the Griffith men’s MIA League side into this year’s tournament. Picture: Anthony Stipo
GRIFFITH Demons captain Jonathan Evans believes the upcoming MIA League season will bring the bonds of the side even closer as they look to build towards the next Waratah State League season.
After leading the makeshift Demons side through the remainder of the state season after the former team walked out mid-year, Evans said more game time will only improve their innate understanding of eachother.
"We improved each game we played together, and it was mainly our teamwork that improved," Evans said.
"Individually they were all great players, but none of the boys had played at that level, so I think at the start they were a bit scared in the first few games.
"But then the confidence they got as the games went on, and as their confidence went up, so did their performances and they played together."
Evans revealed the team had acquired the services of three members of the former Demons side, which will boost their player stocks and add valuable big-game experience to the side
"We've actually got a couple of the boys from the (previous State League side), Steve McCanna, Todd Howard and Dean Spratt, they're coming back," he said.
"We had a training run last night (Tuesday), so apart from those three guys, it's the same side that played the end of the season."
Approaching its fourth season, the MIA League will continue to provide a valuable outlet for many players in the region, according to Evans.
"Leeton and Narrandera aren't big enough to have a state team, so the MIA League is a good tool for them to develop having a state team one day," he said.
"The more the people that get involved the bigger the teams will get and the better the players will get."
Griffith's men's and women's teams will get another week to work on their combinations as they have the first-round bye.
Leeton and Narrandera will clash tomorrow.