MATT Riggio decided to come to Swan Districts rather than return to Peel Thunder after his AFL career with North Melbourne ended, and he's hoping to become a regular midfielder for the black-and-whites.
Riggio played 10 games in his four years in Melbourne with the Kangaroos after being picked up in the 2005 draft from Peel Thunder, and while he did show some good signs that he could play at the top level, he wasn’t in the plans of new coach Brad Scott.
He certainly then was in the plans of Swan Districts, Peel and other WAFL clubs, but in the end decided Steel Blue Oval was where he'd call home in 2010.
The 21-year-old was impressed with what he heard about the club before he arrived and is feeling even more positive about the move now that he's been in training with his new teammates for two weeks.
"It was the fact that I spoke to Peachy (Matt, football manager) and was impressed with what he had to say, and all of the stuff that the club is doing with the indigenous programs, clinics and all of that. It seems like a very successful club and that's what drew me here," Riggio said.
"'Swoop's' (Tim Geappen) leadership has been all right. He's the most lively character down here and I've got around Robbo and his mates in training a bit, and I'm pretty keen to see what everyone else is like."
Peel was keen on luring Riggio back to Mandurah as new coach Trevor Williams tries to build-up a competitive squad, but there was nothing really tying Riggio to Peel anymore and he chose the club he felt would be best for his future.
"I used to live half an hour out of Mandurah anyway, so it's about the same sort of travel than if I was still at home and playing at Peel, so it doesn’t bother me too much," he said.
"They came pretty hard at me and wanted to catch up with me every few days, and it was hard to say no, but obviously somebody will always be disappointed when one club signs a player and one doesn’t. This is just the way I've gone."
Riggio spent time playing all over the field in his years in Melbourne both in the AFL and VFL, but he would like to settle in the midfield for Swans in 2010 alongside the likes of Josh Roberts, Brett Robinson, Andrew Krakouer, Ryan Davis and Tom Roach.
He also felt he settled into the AFL system nicely, so is hopeful an impressive WAFL season could get him back there in 2011.
"I started down back and then went to the midfield and even up forward a little bit, so I've sort of been everywhere. I want to consolidate a spot in the midfield this year and really be an elite midfielder in the WAFL. I'll see how I go with that," Riggio said.
"The first couple of games were pretty daunting and tough, but I played seven in-a-row one year and got pretty used to it. I thought I adapted to it pretty well and went OK. If I get noticed and play well this year anything could happen and hopefully I could be snapped back up next year."
Swans is coming off years of a losing grand final and losing preliminary final, so Riggio is hoping he can help take the club at least one step further than last year.
"They made the prelim last year and obviously have the talent, and I'm starting to see that after training with them for over a week now," he said.
"I've seen what they have to offer and hopefully we can go one step further this year. The club is pretty keen to go one step further this year and the coach Brian Dawson has already said that. I'll be keen to make an impact and hopefully contribute to that."
By Chris Pike
