Benalla may sit four-and-a-half games behind Mooroopna on the Goulburn Valley League senior football ladder. But the Saints will be welcoming the Cats to the Benalla Showgrounds with closing that gap firmly at the front and centre of their collective minds.
Having won two of its past three games — before a winter break at the weekend due to a GVL split-round — Benalla is an outfit which is as in-form as any other across the competition.
In fact, only Echuca and Rochester went undefeated across that three-game stretch, highlighting the tight nature of the competition.
The GVL Data statistics showcase where the respective strengths of the Saints and Cats lie ahead the round 12 fixture between the sides this Saturday.
Mooroopna leads the competition for average disposals per game (374.8), as well as handballs (162.9).
The Cats are also the best in the business for ball up (19.2) and throw in (13.8) clearances, and lead the way for disposal (73 per cent) and handball (85 per cent) efficiency.
Benalla sits in the top five across the competition in eight key areas — many of them the colloquially recognised “hard work” indicators.
The Saints are second for one-percenters and spoils, as well as third in the league for pressure acts and rebound 50s.
The side ranks fourth for centre clearances, frees for and defensive-50 tackles, as well as fifth for hitouts.
BENALLA SAINTS Team averages (ranked against the rest of the GVL)
One percenters — 48.6 (2nd)
Spoils — 18.3 (2nd)
Pressure acts — 63.2 (3rd)
Rebound 50s — 36.5 (3rd)
Centre clearances — 11.1 (4th)
Frees for — 22.3 (4th)
Defensive 50 tackles — 13.7 (4th)
Hitouts — 45.1 (5th)