Top three teams dominate Free Press/GVL Data Team of the Year

One other significant rule that was made before the selection process was that all 12 teams needed to be represented in the team, despite the top three teams having a combined 10 players in the squad.

Each player has an explanation for their selection, although debate will no doubt rage around the fact there are only two Echuca players in the starting line-up.

That is more an indication of the overall strength of the premiership favourite, rather than an indictment on the selectors.

The last line of defence will also create conversation, made up of players from two teams well outside the top six.

The bottom two teams both have one representative in the team.

There are a few unlucky players and a list of apologies was considered worthy of those who narrowly missed selection.

They included Ted Lindon from the Bears, Benalla ruckman Josh Marchbank, Seymour star Jack Murphy, Liam Betson from Mooroopna, Echuca duo Cameron Valentine and Corbin Anderson, along with Mansfield’s Lachlan Murphy-Dale.

Here is the breakdown of players, in ladder order, club by club: Echuca 3, Seymour 4, Kyabram 3, Mooroopna 2, Euroa 2, Mansfield 2, Shepparton Bears 1, Tatura 1, Shepparton Swans 1, Rochester 3, Benalla 1, Shepparton United 1.

Blake Evans (Rochester)

He is the man to take kick-ins, having 20 more effective kick-ins than any other player this year. He has most handball receives in the competition, 11 ahead of Team of the Year teammate Ryan Pendlebury. He is top five for effective rebound 50s, second in the competition (to United’s Kyle Clarke for most kicks), 20.9 average, and is averaging 24 disposals a game.

Best game for 2023: Evans is a member of the elite 40-disposal club, achieving the feat against Euroa in round nine when he had 36 kicks and four handballs. On six occasions this year he has topped the 100 ranking point mark from the last line of defence.

Hamish Hooppell (Rochester)

Surprise, but much-deserved selection. He has laid the most tackles in the back 50, is equal third (with Evans) for rebound 50s, is a top 10 intercept possession player and been able to provide a big-bodied presence in the mid-field when called on — as a pinch-hitting ruckman. His 33-disposal, 10-mark, six-clearance and five inside-50 game against Mansfield was an indication of his ability to move upfield.

Best game for 2023: Aside from the Mansfield game, Hooppell had 122 ranking points when he had 10 clearances, 24 disposals, four inside 50s and five tackles after starting the match at fullback against Tatura.

Ethan Penrith (Tatura)

Having a hard nut in the last night is important and Penrith’s statistics are a salute to his aggression and physicality. Penrith is the third most effective tackler in the competition (fourth most tackles for 2023) and has more pressure acts than any other player in the league. He has the sixth most kicks this season, attracts the attention of the umpires (35 free kicks for and 38 against) and is also a top 10 player for smothers.

Best game for 2023: A match-winning 32-disposal, 14-tackle game against Rochester also included eight clearances and earned him 125 ranking points. He has topped the 120-point mark on six occasions in 15 games this year.

Ryan Pendlebury (Euroa)

If it is a defensive statistical category, Pendlebury is in the top 10: second for handball receives, equal fifth for spoils, fourth for intercept possessions (eighth for intercept marks) and fourth for effective kick-ins. He has had more rebound 50s than any other player this year and is equal eighth for the most disposals in the competition.

Best game for 2023: His 13-rebound 50 and 32-disposal game against Echuca earned him 136 ranking points. He also laid five tackles and took four intercept marks. In five games this year he has had in excess of 130 ranking points.

Michael Hartley (Seymour)

Every team needs a swing man and this bloke is our lock in that role (just ahead of Lachie Smith, on the interchange). He has the sixth most marks in the competition, averages almost two inside 50s and two rebound 50s a game and has kicked 21 goals this year — including nine in a match-winning performance against Benalla in round 13.

Best game for 2023: Apart from nine goals in the Lions’ second meeting with Benalla, Hartley had a season high 160 ranking points in the round one meeting with the Saints. He had 25 disposals, 12 marks (8 intercept), eight rebound 50s and eight one per centers.

Kyle Clarke (Shepp United)

He has kicked the ball more than any other player in the GVL and is seventh for overall disposals. Clarke has taken 105 marks (42 intercepts), only bettered by Team of the Year teammates Lachie Smith and Riley Mason. He is equal fifth for effective kick ins and fifth for rebound 50s.

Best game for 2023: In a three week stretch from round 10-12 Clarke had a combined 108 disposals, 29 marks (14 intercepts), 15 tackles and 26 rebounds 50s. He had a season-high 170 ranking points against Rochester in a 37-disposal game.

Riley Mason (Seymour)

Has taken more marks than any other player in the competition (115 in his 14 games) and is ninth on the marks inside 50 list. He has also put his teammates in scoring positions (fourth in the league for goal assists) and has stood up in two matches this year as a key forward (six goals against Euroa and four against Euroa — 22 for the season).

Best game for 2023: Mason has been great against the other top six teams, kicking nine goals in two games against Euroa and having a 17-disposal/10-mark/two-goal game against Echuca.

Will Hayes (Euroa)

Where do we start? Averages 35.4 disposals in his 14 games, has a season high of 15 tackles (averaging 7.7), puts the pull inside the Euroa 50m arc six times a game and is credited with the same amount of clearances every week. He is averaging 148.3 ranking points a game, more than any other player in the GVL. He has also kicked 19 goals, including four against Shepparton Bears.

Best game for 2023: Hard to go past his 50-disposal, 10-clearance, 10-inside 50 and 197-point match against Seymour (in a losing team). He has had seven 150-point-plus games.

Nathan Beattie (Seymour)

Beattie is one of the reasons Seymour is the most prolific marking team in the competition, having taken the second most uncontested marks for the season (fifth for total marks). He is a top 10 player for score involvements and pressure acts, while also being credited with the sixth most effective inside 50 entries. Beattie is also a top 10 player for forward 50 tackles.

Best game for 2023: In round three against Euroa, Beattie had 28 disposals, took 16 marks, laid six tackles, had four inside 50s and kicked two goals. Against United in round 11 he had 33 disposals, nine clearances, nine inside 50s and seven tackles.

Will Monahan captain (Echuca)

Leadership is important in any team and this man is our captain. Monahan has dished off 18 goal assists (third in the GVL), taken the fourth most marks inside 50 and is sixth on the goal kicking table (35). He has also had the second most goal involvements of any player in the league, behind teammate Sam Reid.

Best game for 2023: Monahan’s season-high disposal game against Shepparton Swans included five clearances, six inside 50s and three goals. In the same game, he had three centre clearances and was credited with 12 score involvements.

Ben Christopher (Mansfield)

Has taken more marks inside the forward 50 than any other player, kicking 39.19 for the season from his 15 games. He has also worked feverishly when not in possession, laying the most forward 50 tackles in the competition and having a season-high of nine against United.

Best game for 2023: He was the most dominant player on the ground against Benalla in round 14, taking 12 marks (seven contested), having 18 disposals, laying three tackles, kicking five goals and on three occasions sending the ball inside 50.

Chris Neild (Mooroopna)

Has played a different role to last season when he kicked 82 goals in 20 games. Has kicked 44 goals (and 30 behinds, most in GVL) in 15 games this season, with a season-high seven against Benalla. Is second behind teammate Jackson Trengove in the goal kicking and has taken the second most inside 50 marks.

Best game for 2023: Neild scored 132 ranking points against Shepparton Swans in a game where he kicked five goals, took 11 marks inside 50 and had 21 disposals. He could have finished with a double figure goal tally, kicking six behinds for the match.

Sam Reid coach (Echuca)

Arguably the most influential player in the competition. The Echuca coach has more hard ball gets than any other player, is number one for goal assists and score involvements and is third for ground ball gets. Reid is a top 10 player for total disposals in the GVL, third for contested possessions and holds that same ranking for clearances (fifth for centre clearances). He is a top 10 player for inside 50s, 10th in the goalkicking (29 goals) and is even top 10 for blocks.

Best game for 2023: A 184 ranking point game against Tatura featured 35 disposals, 11 inside 50s, five tackles, six clearances and eight goal involvements. He also kicked three goals himself.

Jackson Trengove (Mooroopna)

Ten-goal hauls against Rochester and Shepparton United, along with half a dozen against Mansfield, make the former AFL big man the spearhead of the team. He has 46 goals and 24 behinds this season and has only been kept goalless in one game this year.

Best game for 2023: A 168 ranking point game in round six against Rochester was a standout, seven marks inside 50 and 10 goals the feature of the performance.

Nathan Hrovat (Shepp Swans)

Hrovat, despite his stature, has the most uncontested marks of the competition and is third on the total disposal list (30.9 average). He is a top 10 player for clearances and in a match against Shepp Bears had 10 clearances, 39 dispoals, five tackles and four inside 50s — a game where he scored a season high 194 ranking points.

Best game for 2023: Against Shepp United in round 12, Hrovat had an amazing 46 disposals, took 14 marks, had six clearances and kicked a goal as his team had its best win of the season.

Zac Norris (Kyabram)

Norris is like adding an extra mid-fielder to the team, having had the second most contested possessions in the competition this year. His is more than competent in all rucking facets — 88 hit outs to advantage (fifth) and sixth for hit outs, but it is his follow up work that is struck a cord with statisticians. He is the number one player for gathers this season.

Best game for 2023: Norris had 28 disposals (21 contested), 12 clearances and a season-high 157 ranking points against Shepparton United. He also had 15 score involvements and 31 hit outs (13 to advantage).

Jack O’Sullivan (Seymour)

Having Atley, O’Sullivan and Sam Reid in the same centre square may require the other players to take out life insurance. O’Sullivan is third behind that pair for hard ball gets, is fifth in the GVL for pressure acts, fifth for score involvements and fifth overall for disposals (seventh for contested possessions). He has also had the third most inside 50s and is sixth for clearances.

Best game for 2023: Two goals against Shepparton Bears were coupled with 29 disposals, eight clearances and nine inside 50s (164 ranking points). His season his 37 disposals (20 contested) came against Mansfield.

Joe Atley (Rochester)

Atley is second only to Euroa star Will Hayes for ranking points this season, has the most contested possessions (16.6 average) this season and is also second for total disposals (31.3 average). He has been awarded the most free kicks this year (also fourth for frees against), has the most centre clearances, second most ground ball gets, second most throw in clearances and second for hard ball gets.

Best game for 2023: versus Shepparton Bears (the same game he was reported in) 170 ranking points, 35 disposals, eight clearances, eight tackles and three goals.

Interchange: Lachie Smith (Kyabram), Liam Tenace (Echuca), Dirk Koenen (Mansfield), Kaine Hebert (Kyabram), Christopher Welsh (Benalla), Adam De Cicco (Shepparton Bears)

Lachie Smith has taken the second most marks in the GVL this season (most intercept marks), while Liam Tenace has taken the most contested marks and is a top 10 player for hit outs.

He is the back up ruckman and both players offer swing man options (Tenace has 23 goals this season).

Dirk Koenen is third for intercept possessions, fourth for total marks and in three games this year has taken eight intercept marks.

Welsh is sixth for disposals, seventh for effective inside 50s and top 10 for both pressure acts, hard ball gets and gathers.

Adam De Cicco is third for loose ball gets the fourth most prolific ball getter in the competition.