OSBORNE has further strengthened its claims for back-to-back premierships by signing former Ovens and Murray Rising Star nomination Jed Griffin and North Wagga assistant-coach Guy Ward.
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Griffin and Ward will bolster an already potent midfield on top of Albury star Joel Mackie signing as coach and Azzi medallist Jamie Parr returning from a knee reconstruction.
Griffin, who is related to Osborne brothers Izaak and Jacob McDonnell, showed enormous potential playing for Corowa-Rutherglen before surprisingly switching to Rutherglen last year.
One Roo official said at the time he had the ability to play 200 Ovens and Murray matches.
Griffin was nominated for the Ovens and Murray's Rising Star award in 2018 after showing flashes of brilliance for the Roos.
"Jed has some strong links up at Osborne through the McDonnells and he should fit in really well," Mackie said.
"He's played some good footy in the Ovens and Murray and is still only young."
Ward played in North Wagga's Farrer league premiership against East Wagga-Kooringal last year after missing 11 matches mid-season due to injury.
He played one SANFL game for Adelaide in 2018 as a development top-up player.
"Guy's one of those players who can play in a number of positions and, like Jed, he's going to be really handy," Mackie said.
While Mackie said Parr had been training strongly, he was reluctant to put a possible date on his return.
"We certainly won't be rushing him back," Mackie said.
"He's going well."
Osborne has kept its losses to a minimum with Sam Rutland (Lakes Entrance), Mitch Wickham (Sydney) and Bill Alexander (Melbourne) the confirmed departures.
Veteran Hayden Gleeson has also indicated he will retire.
The Tigers have been training at Uranquinty.