Following on from its blistering form from last week’s inspired fourth quarter, Benalla jumped out of the blocks against Mansfield to establish a three-goal quarter-time lead. That hard first-quarter work would be the foundation on which Benalla was able to hold on for its third win of the 2024 Goulburn Valley League season.
It was very much a familiar form of dominance from Benalla’s best: establish ruck dominance, exit stoppage shoulders out and put scores on the board from clearance.
Benalla’s key ruckman, Mark Marriott, dominated the middle in the first term. Marriott alone had 17 hit outs, (Mansfield as a team had seven in total) contributing directly to the 12 to five clearance differential in favour of Jarrad Waite’s men.
Mark Marriott versus Mansfield
Disposals: 13
Tackles: 6
Clearances: 5
Goal involvements: 5
Hit outs: 79
Ranking points: 145
Directly benefiting from the Benalla ruck dominance was Wade King, who ranked as the game’s best player at end of the first term. King racked up a ridiculous six clearances in the opening quarter, jump-starting the Saints at what seemed to be every stoppage.
With the Marriott/King duo starring early, the Saints were able to score four goals straight directly from stoppage during their dominant first term. Contextually, they finished the day scoring a total 6.1 (37) from stoppage, while the Eagles managed just 4.4 (28), proving that at their best the Saints can put anyone to the sword.
Benalla continued to dominate the hit-out numbers, finishing the day +46, but following the quarter-time break, the Eagles were able to quell the influence and steady the clearances with the help of the rain.
It was a dogfight to the end, with the Saints narrowly holding on to a five-point win in front of their home crowd. Chris Welsh, James Martiniello, King and Marriott starred for the Saints, taking full advantage of the hard work done throughout the first quarter in the wild, wet and windy conditions.