Broadmeadow defender Jon Griffiths won't be short on motivation when he tries to help Magic turn the tables on premiers Edgeworth and win the first spot in the Northern NSW NPL grand final on Saturday.
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The Eagles host Broadmeadow in the major semi-final at Jack McLaughlan Oval from 5pm. The winners move straight into the November 8 grand final at No.2 Sportsground, while the losers next week take on the victors from Sunday's minor semi-final between Maitland and Newcastle Olympic (2.30pm) at Darling Street Oval for the other spot.
For Griffiths, an early grand final ticket would be extra special given his finish to 2018 and setbacks since.
The centre-back missed Broadmeadow's victory over Edgeworth in the 2018 decider after being sent off for a desperate challenge in the semi-final win over Maitland.
He then sat out the finals in 2019 because of fears of a heart condition after bouts of fatigue and shortness of breath. Without him, Magic lost to Maitland on the away goals rule in their two-leg semi-final.
The 29-year-old was cleared in pre-season to return this year and he has again been a key man for Magic. He was keen to avoid any dramas getting through to the grand final this year but he knew the task ahead.
"It would be nice to win this one and go straight through and do it the easy way," Griffiths said.
"But they are always hard to beat. The last four years or so they've been super hard to beat and they definitely run the 90 minutes out every time. They always seem to get that winning goal in the final minutes, that crucial goal."
Edgeworth will start favourites on Saturday after a season in which they have won 11 of 13 games, earning them a record 13th top-division premiership and the first week of the finals off. They will be close to full strength after Josh Rose and Will Bower rested groin problems in the 9-0 final-round win over Adamstown.
Broadmeadow are also in good shape, thanks in part to Griffiths overcoming injuries to play in the 3-1 win over Olympic last week.
"I tore my groin and had a few weeks off, then first game back I had a collision with my own goalkeeper [in the last round 1-1 draw with Jaffas]," he said.
"My knee blew up really bad and then I was racing the clock to be fit for the next week. I played 70 minutes and just got through that, but the swelling has gone down now."
With Anthony Richards at the helm, Broadmeadow have easily been Edgeworth's biggest challengers all season, finishing second and losing to the Eagles 1-0 thanks to an 85th-minute Daniel Fabrizio goal in their only clash.
That came despite Magic losing Mitch Oxborrow, Kale Bradbery, Josh Piddington, Justin Broadley and Kristian Brymora from last year's squad. Brymora was the league's joint leading scorer this season at Edgeworth.
"I think a lot of people wrote us off after a couple of players left and went to the Jaffas, but I think we've had a couple of young boys who have stepped up, and with the likes of Mitch Rooke coming in, it hasn't been too much of a loss," Griffiths said.
"Sam Walker has come in and scored goals like he always does, and Mitch Rooke has been fantastic.
"We've had a bit of a reshuffle at the back as well and I think Luke [Virgili] has been doing a super job at centre-back, and Dave [Ifield] at left-back.
"I can't really fault anyone this year. The attitude has been spot on. Richo has done a good job getting us super fit and we've been playing some good stuff."
Meanwhile, Charlestown have added to their squad for 2021 with the signing of Harrison Frendo and Jackson Burston from Adamstown and Jett White from Weston.