Individuals performances don’t win premierships.
But when an individual continues to rack up performances that leave the rest of the league in their dust, it certainly warrants highlighting.
Echuca’s Jack McHale has been a bull at the coal face for the Murray Bombers this Goulburn Valley League season — as highlighted by GVL Data on a number of occasions.
But you have to put the midfield maestro up against the context of the other stars of the competition to truly understand his prowess.
McHale has completed three of the top six individual clearance performances to this point of the campaign.
His 15 clearances against Shepparton United in round 10 stands tall above the rest, but he also secured 13 against Euroa in round two (equal second highest) and 12 against Shepparton in round six.
CLEARANCE KINGS Best individual clearance tallies this season
15 - Jack McHale (Echuca), round 10 v Shepparton United
13 - Chris Jansen (Rochester), round 11 v Kyabram
13 - Jack McHale (Echuca), round two v Euroa
12 - Will Martiniello (Benalla), round 12 v Seymour
12 - Shaun Atley (Rochester), round six v Shepparton Swans
12 - Jack McHale (Echuca), round 6 v Shepparton
To top it off, his 10 against Mansfield in round four sits just outside the top 10 performances of the season in terms of clearances compiled.
It is no surprise to see that McHale leads the overall clearance tally this season as well, averaging 8.5 per game to the end of round 12.
His efforts have also contributed to Echuca’s midfield dominance, with the ladder leader racking up 455 clearances in the first 12 rounds to lead the way in that category for the league.
CLEARANCE KINGS Highest average clearances per game (to round 12, minimum five matches)
8.5 - Jack McHale (Echuca)
8.4 - Will Martiniello (Benalla)
8.2 - Chris Jansen (Rochester)
7 - Shaun Atley (Rochester)
6.8 - Chris Welsh (Benalla)
CLEARANCE KINGS Highest clearance totals by team (to round 12)
455 - Echuca
428 - Euroa
426 - Mooroopna