Griffiths using second chance to smash stereotypes

Rostyn Griffiths has noticed a greater appreciation for Australian footballers' hard work from the Europeans but he wants them to know that there's more to Aussie players than simply getting stuck in.

Rostyn Griffiths is on a mission in the Netherlands (AAP) Source: AAP

Griffiths, 27, left Perth Glory at the end of the last A-League season to link up with Eredivisie club Roda JC, from the town of Kerkrade, to realise is childhood dream of playing in Europe.

“The two things I've noticed is that people over here expect Australians to provide a good attitude and a hard-work ethic,” Griffiths said.

“It's the first thing they think of when they refer to Aussies.

“For me that's great and something I feel I can definitely bring to the team but I also want to be able to change their opinions a little bit and make them realise that we also have good tactical and technical qualities as a nation.

“I want them to know we can play football as well.”

Griffiths, who was born in Stoke-on-Trent, has started in all three of Roda's league games, which have yielded six points and fifth spot on the ladder.

He was promised a starting spot and so far he has met his coach Darije Kalezic's expectations.

“I've been fortunate to play in all the games so far which has been great,” Griffiths said.

“When I spoke to the coach on the phone before I signed he made his intention clear that he wouldn't bring someone in who was going to be just a squad player.

"He wanted someone to be able to come in and play straight away.

“We have quite a young team so he wanted me to use the experience I've gained so far and keep this team in the top division where it belongs.

“There's plenty of good players within the squad so I'm not getting too far ahead of myself yet."

It is a far cry from Perth, which Griffiths served with distinction. 

It is also a long way from the Central Coast, North Queensland and Guangzhou in China, which have all been lucky enough to have Griffiths at various stages of his career.

The midfielder said he has settled well into his new environment.

“Yeah, I haven't got any complaints to be honest," Griffiths said.

“Everyone has been really friendly and accommodating. But most importantly it's great to be playing at a professional club with ambition in a league that is of a high standard.

“I don't live in Kerkrade which is where the stadium is. I actually live in Maastricht, which is a really cool city, so outside of football I'm also enjoying it. There's plenty of interesting cities within driving distance. Amsterdam, for example, is two hours away.”

Roda is a small club on the German border and has only just returned to the Eredivisie after suffering the first relegation in its history two seasons ago.

It is forever living in the shadow of the Eredivisie's big three Ajax, Feyenoord, and PSV, but it has turned a few heads in its first season back with the big boys.

“The club's first target is to remain in the Eredivisie,” Griffiths said.

“However with the quality of the squad and the tactical and technical qualities of our head coach I think the club is aiming for a lot higher than it initially expected to.”

Griffiths's arrival has strengthened the strong bond which links Australian and Dutch football.

Roda fondly remembers the contributions of striker Graham Arnold, defender Gary Van Egmond, and goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac, who all played for the club in the 1990s.

“Most people at the club reminded me that Arnold, Van Egmond and Kalac had played for Roda,” Griffiths said.

“The club told me they were good players and generally spoke very highly of them.

“Then we discussed the Dutch players I had played with in Australia so straight away it was obvious there was a strong relationship between the two countries.”

Griffiths is realising his dream of playing in Europe after, by his own admission, leaving Britain too soon as an ambitious 20-year-old Blackburn Rovers player.

“From the moment I left England I regretted my decision because I knew that I always wanted to play at the highest level I could in Europe,” he said.

“At the time I thought I wanted to come back to Australia (where he grew up) but looking back I just wanted to have a change of scene after having been at Blackburn for five years.

“Pretty much ever since then I've always been wanting to come back to Europe but for one reason or another there was always something that stopped it. That's why I decided it was really now or never when the opportunity arose early this year.

“Roda needed a defensive midfielder so it has worked out well for me.”