The Griffith midfielder was reported for abusing an umpire in a heated third quarter incident as the Swans came from behind to down Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong.

Iudica admitted it was a relief when told he could accept a reprimand with an early guilty plea following a fairly sleepless night.

“Will Griggs rang me at about 9.30-10 o’clock (Sunday) night and I already knew I’d been reported and was dozing off and it probably took me three or four hours before I did get some zzz’s,” Iudica said.

“I started thinking about what could possible happen and what I could possibly be missing out on and it took me a while to get to sleep.

“It was a tough morning as well, but it was nice to get that message from Jeff (Harris) saying I was all clear to play.”

Iudica took exception for being pinged for holding the ball, before being handed a 50 metre penalty and then the yellow card for continuing to remonstrate with the umpire. 

He’s thankful his actions didn’t cost his team a shot at the title.

“I’m not talking rubbish here, but I’m usually one of the guys telling people like the Duncans, who like to go off a little bit, just to relax as we’ve never seen an umpire change their minds,” he said.

“I think with the position we were in, Ganmain were on top of us, I probably wasn’t performing as well as I would have liked individually, and things weren’t going our way that I got caught up in it a little bit, really overreacted and could have let the team down really badly.

“But it seems the time I was off they kicked a couple and turned that game around.”

Griggs was thrilled the star midfielder can now focus on trying to get the better of Collingullie-Glenfield Park.

“It’s good to get that out of the way early and now he can focus on his game this week as obviously he’s a very big part of our team,” Griggs said.

While no stranger to grand final success, after being part of Coburg’s win in the 2012 VFL development it has been a while between drinks for Iudica.

The 25-year-old has been completing an eight-hour round trip from Canberra to play for the Swans for the last three years and believes the grand final is a reward for the commitment from the playing group.

“It will be really special this one,” he said.

“A lot of us have traveled or heavy committed to the club.

“Griggs, Sam Daniel, Ben King and Heath Northey have ended up moving down there, but it has been a three or four year process.

“We’ve been in the finals, got to a prelim last year and didn’t quite get over the line, but there is a really special feeling about this group.

“Grand final week isn’t something I’ve experienced for a long while and everyday you wake up hoping it is Saturday.

“I can’t wait.”

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