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Griffiths to chase AFL dream in SANFL stint

He dominated the TSL, and Harvey Griffiths wants to use his SANFL stint to continue chasing his AFL dream.

Harvey Griffiths playing for North Launceston. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones
Harvey Griffiths playing for North Launceston. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Harvey Griffiths hasn’t given up on his AFL dream, and hopes to use a SANFL stint to turn some heads after a dominant TSL season.

The 23-year-old forward won the Peter Hudson Medal as the now-defunct league’s leading goal kicker and booted 53 in 18 games.

He has signed with West Adelaide for two years and will make the move with girlfriend Dani next month.

Despite being an undersized forward, Griffiths has proven himself to be a dual threat with his overhead marking ability and instinct around the packs.

After he didn’t attract any interest in his draft year, Griffiths felt it’s now or never after a superb season where he helped lead the Bombers to an unbeaten flag and made his senior Tasmania debut.

With the TSL to be replaced by a regional premier league and Tasmania’s VFL program not slated to begin until 2026, Griffiths decided to “bite the bullet”.

“Obviously with the VFL program coming in it was a hard choice, but at the end of the day it’ more so the standard of footy throughout next year that pushed me to go,” he said.

“Really at the moment 18 AFL teams aren’t in Tassie, so if you want to play AFL you’re not going to be able to stay in Tassie.

Harvey Griffiths (right) with Bombers teammate Blade Sulzberger after their grand final win over Lauderdale. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones
Harvey Griffiths (right) with Bombers teammate Blade Sulzberger after their grand final win over Lauderdale. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“I just had to bite the bullet and take the big step. I’ve been thinking about a move for a while to be honest, ever since my under-18 year after I didn’t get drafted.

“Definitely (I haven’t given up on AFL), I’m trying to make it on a list somewhere.

“It (the move) made sense for me with where my footy was at. I’m moving over with my girlfriend who’s starting uni, it made sense where my life is.”

If Griffiths doesn’t make it on an AFL list, it won’t be for lack of diligence to his craft.

He became a young leader at the Bombers and was renowned for his hard work and professionalism.

“It’s been a lot of hard work and dedication, and I”m finally starting to get a bit of reward for effort,” he said.

“I’m just trying to get the best out of myself and keep improving. It’s that old saying you keep hitting that rock, and eventually it’s going to break.

“That’s always been me, I’ve been playing footy all my life and I’ve been footy, footy, footy my whole life.

“I’ve always taken it very seriously with gym work, nutrition and training standards.

“It is really hard, the thing that made me make the move is the AFL team is’t coming for a while, I’m 23 now and when it comes in I’ll be a lot older. I want to do it now.”

Griffiths played forward all through juniors, but played mostly midfield in TSL before returning to his first love this year.

He seized his chance and established himself as one of the most dangerous players in the league.

“I think I’ll play deeper (at West Adelaide), they’ve got a couple of taller forwards so I think I’ll chop and change with them to give us different looks,” he said.

“I’ve always played above my height I guess, in juniors I always played as a key forward but was pretty small.

“It all feels very natural in the forward line. I played juniors there and I lost that for a bit, now I’m back I feel very comfortable.”

Griffiths said he’s unsure how many other Bombers premiership stars would head to a mainland league.

“I think everyone is very much umming and ahing about it, and they’re not entirely sure. It’s uncertain times at the moment I think,” he said.

Original URL: https://www.themercury.com.au/sport/griffiths-to-chase-afl-dream-in-sanfl-stint/news-story/a38281d2343588ba59e95768719c3ed1