Rostyn Griffiths says the prospect of championship success has been the catalyst for his return to Perth Glory Football Club for the upcoming Hyundai A-league 2016/17 campaign.
Griffiths is expected to be part of the travelling squad for Glory’s first official match of the season against Brisbane Roar away in the RD 32 FFA Cup match in Queensland on Wednesday.
“They are a really tough team but I think we feel good” Griffiths said.
“We had a good pre-season tournament in the Philippines, we did well over there, we looked sharp and everyone’s looking fitter since we’ve been back so I think we’ll go in confident but you know they’re never easy to play Brisbane.”
Griffiths has returned home to become Glory’s 14th Western Australian player after a brief spell in the Netherlands with Roda JC, where he played with Glory’s hot prospect Daniel De Silva, who is on a two-year loan with the Dutch club.
“Holland was great. I think it’s a great league, all about football and footballing style. The only thing that frustrated me was that it was a development league so it’s really good for the younger kids and unless you are one of top 3 teams there, you aren’t really going to win anything and that was where I was at and I wasn’t happy not winning things. I really wanted to start winning stuff.”
“It’s a good league and a competitive league and it’s well watched and well respected so I look fondly on my time there if I’m honest, it was good.”
Griffiths may still hold the record for the biggest transfer fee in the competition but wants to bring silverware back to his hometown club where he has unfinished business.
“Definitely, there’s some things you want out of the game whether it’s winning something, money or the highest level possible and I think that I’ve had a chance to do a couple of those things but maybe not win something so winning something especially with my hometown club will be great and something I want to do before I finish football.”
Griffiths maintains high aspirations for success this season with the talent and depth available at Kenny Lowe’s disposal.
“I think the potential of the squad is a team that could win the league. I was here before when Perth had a strong team and we ended up doing really well that year (without all the problems) but it was a strong team then and I feel like this team feels a little bit stronger and with more unity so I think that’s a good recipe for success.”
As for where he will fit in the line-up, Griffiths is hoping to slot straight back in where he left off.
“Definitely central midfield. I think with myself, Rhys (Williams), Ox (Mitch Oxborrow) and Brandon Wilson, I think there’s good competition for places there and I think the way we want to play this year is a bit more dynamic and a little bit more up and down and not just sitting as much as I used to so I’m looking forward to that.”
Glory will be aiming for its third straight FFA Cup finals appearance and Western Australian viewers and fans can catch Perth’s quest for Glory HERE: http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/ffa-cup/ffacupondemand
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