Griffith coach Will Griggs was left wondering what could have been after the final siren in Saturday’s Riverina League grand final.
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The Swans almost pulled off a fairytale finish, kicking five goals to one in the last quarter to fall two points short of a an amazing comeback.
Griggs, along with the rest of the Swans players and supporters, was left devastated as the siren beat Griffith in frantic finish.
Griggs was proud of his players but could not help but rue wasted opportunities.
“We had our chances,” Griggs said.
“We had a lot of inside 50s, sometimes they just don’t go through the big sticks but I can’t doubt the effort from the boys, it was fantastic.
“You could analyse it a bunch of ways when you lose by two points. There’s not much in it.”
Griffith went into quarter time two points ahead and then spent most of the second quarter hanging in the game.
The Swans snared two late goals in the second term to go into half-time back in the contest at eight points down.
Two goals inside the first two minutes in the third term put the Swans in front. Unfortunately it was then followed by six straight from a rampant Collingullie team.
Jacob Conlan kicked a late one against the tide at the end of the third quarter to keep Griffith in touch but 26 points down.
After an even beginning to the final term, the Swans charged home only for the siren to sound with them two points short.
Griggs believes the Swans were far from at their best on the day but had nothing but admiration for the way they never gave in.
“Absolutely, I think that last quarter really epitomised what our season was, just pure ticker,” he said.
“We said before the game that you could have three bad quarters and one good quarter and win a game and you can have three good ones and one bad one and lose a game. We almost had three bad ones, one good one and stole one today but it wasn’t to be.”
It was a disappointing finish to what had been an outstanding season from Griffith.
The Swans went through the home and away season undefeated before losing two out of their finals, both to Collingullie-GP.
Griggs, who has re-signed for next year, vowed to return bigger and better next season.
“Absolutely. We’ll learn a lot from today and hopefully regroup and be back next year,” he said.
Jacob Conlan was outstanding for Griffith on Sunday. He kicked four goals and took an enormous amount of marks in the Swans’ comeback.
Griffith teenager Isaac Campbell was good on a wing, while James Toscan was strong in defence.
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