RFL Australian rules football
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
LEETON-WHITTON will play its first ever Anzac Day game when it takes on Griffith this evening at Exies Oval.
Adding to the emotion of the day and the challenge for the Crows will be the fact it is also the Swans' centenary anniversary weekend.
After a flying start and first-up win over Narrandera, the Crows had to cool their heels due to a league-wide bye for Easter.
Coach David Meline hoped coming back from a break onto such a grand stage should not faze the young Crows.
"It is the first time I've been to the footy on Anzac Day," Meline said. "I don't think it will have too much effect.
"They've got their 100-year reunion so they've got a fair bit to play for."
In round one the Crows outran a bigger Narrandera side and blew it off the park in the opening quarter. However, after a damp lead-up the ground got heavier in the second half as moisture was drawn up through the soil and the game became a slog for the Crows' young legs.
Meline is hoping for favourable conditions and the harder Exies Oval ground will suit his side's running game tonight.
"If we stick to what we did well at Narrandera, we'll be more than competitive," he said.
"I'm hoping for a reasonably warm night, so it doesn't get dewy. I expect Griffith to be a bit more mobile than Narrandera."
The Crows will have a couple of forced changes with Mitch Hardie and Liam Woods unavailable. n Continued Page 18
Meline said so early in the season there was no point being worried about specific opposition players, but he would have his eye on the likes of Guy Orton and Michael Duncan.
"Orton is a Quinn medallist, he's one of their keys and Mick Duncan has been around for a while," he said.
"There is no one specific (we will focus on). They have picked up a couple of guys that I haven't seen, including a tall ruckman, so it is a bit of an unknown.
"A lot of sides don't know who's in or out. I think that's the way most coaches look at things.
"I'm not too concerned with the opposition at this stage. I'm focusing on us and making sure we keep improving."
Under the Anzac Day Act 1958, no sporting event can start before 1pm on Anzac Day. Today's games will start with the under 17s at 2pm, with first grade kicking-off at 6.30pm.
Griffith versus Leeton-Whitton is one of two Anzac Day games in the Riverina league, with Wagga also hosting Collingullie Ashmont Kapooka at Robertson Oval today for their traditional clash.