The Griffith Swans have survived a tough test from Ganmain Grong Grong Matong to come away with a 19-point win at Exies Oval on Sunday afternoon.
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The Swans were able to hold off a charging Lions outfit who closed to within a point before a Jacob Conlan goal just before the siren sounded gave the home side a 14.14 (98) to 12.7 (79) victory.
Conlan led the way up forward with three goals while Sam Daniel, Heath Northey, Theo Valeri and Dean Bennett kicked two apiece. Meanwhile, for the visiting side Daniel Foley, Riley Corbett and Aaron Proctor kicked two goals each.
Ill-discipline from the Swans saw the Lions get right back into the game with a six-goal third term to see them down by seven heading into the final term.
The uncharacteristic issues left Swans’ coach Will Griggs a little bit disappointed.
“We were very undisciplined today I think we gave away three or four fifties which never helps and we have been so good at that all year,” he said.
“It wasn't so much our new players but some of our older more experienced blokes, and at this stage of the year, you can't afford to do that.
“We thought that when they had it in the third quarter, we stuck to it pretty well and then they got a few goals late in the quarter to level it up a bit heading into the final term. But when you have got the wind, it always helps a little bit.”
The win now means the winning start to the season has now been extended to 10 games, but Griggs isn’t getting ahead of himself.
“It is very hard to go through the year undefeated, so we aren't thinking that at all,” he said.
“We know there is going to be a lull and we think we are in that lull at the moment. Teams are testing us and lucky enough we can respond.
“We always knew was going to be a tough game, we rate them very highly they are probably a top three team.”
The Swans will now prepare themselves for a trip to Leeton to take on their arch-rivals who have won three of their last four games while the Lions will take on Wagga Tigers at home.