Ainslie’s Griffiths NEAFL Rising Star nominee

The 19-year-old starred for the Tricolours at the weekend in Canberra where he picked up 14 disposals, six inside 50s and a goal.

An Ainslie junior since under-12s, Griffiths has come forward in leaps and bounds throughout his teenage years and made his first AIS-AFL Academy squad as a 16-year-old in 2012.

A member of the GWS Giants Academy for the past few seasons, Griffiths made his senior NEAFL debut as a top-up player for the Giants in 2013 before pulling on the Ainslie guernsey for the first time at senior level last season.

Last year also saw Griffiths tour Europe with the AIS squad, spend a week training with the GWS senior squad, and played in the Giants’ Preliminary Final loss to Aspley in Sydney.

He has bounced back from the disappointment of missing out on last year’s AFL draft to play a consistent role for the Tricolours so far this NEAFL season.

“I’m really enjoying my footy at the moment and I definitely think my footy has benefited from playing consistent games with Ainslie,” Griffiths said.

“Each week I go in with the same mindset because I know where I sit with the team. I think that really helps with my footy because that expectation is there, but I know how to do it.

“At first it was gut-wrenching when I found out I didn’t get drafted, but it’s made me realise how much I actually want to play at the highest level.

“I didn’t expect it, but it’s a nice confidence boost to get the nomination.”

The Rising Star is awarded to the most promising young talent in the NEAFL competition. Nominees must be under the age of 21 and played less than 20 NEAFL games.

Image courtesy of Ben Southall