GVL Data ǀ Bears show growth in gallant Echuca defeat

Shepparton was powerless to stifle the Murray Bombers’ slick ball movement, as they chalked up 246 kicks to Shepparton’s 132, and 160 handballs to 93, going at 87 per cent efficiency by hand.

What was most staggering from their round six encounter was the inside 50 count.

The Murray Bombers sent themselves inside 50 a whopping 74 times to Shepparton’s nine.

But a rematch in round 16 of Goulburn Valley League, where the Bears trimmed the margin from a 156-point loss in round 6, to an 80-point deficit at the weekend, has given the brainstrust at Deakin Reserve plenty to work with as it makes preparations for season 2023.

It’s important to note the Bears were without the services of star half-back and playing coach Ted Lindon on Saturday, who will miss the remainder of the season through injury.

The Bears mentor took defensive matters into his own hands in round six, chalking up 11 one percenters, five intercept marks and 12 rebound 50s.

He was forced to watch boundary-side at the weekend and said his side would take plenty of positives from its defensive efforts.

“I thought it was one of our more impressive efforts of the year,” Lindon said.

“Our overall intensity on the ball was great and our defensive 50 ball movement was impressive at times against their press.

“In terms of growth, we had 20 to 25 more inside 50s; our ability to move the ball with more method and urgency was great.”

This was clearly reflected on the stats chart — the Bears managed to get inside the arc 28 times this time around compared to the miserly nine last time they met.

Shepparton was also much cleaner.

The Bears went at 62 per cent efficiency by foot, a marked improvement from the 44 per cent in round six, also cleaning up their handballs to bring that up from 61 per cent to 83 per cent.