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GVL Data

GVL Data | Preview: Euroa and Seymour to renew rivalry on big stage

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Flying high: Euroa's Ryan Pendlebury. Photo by Aydin Payne

The Anzac round contest between Seymour and Euroa is a senior football match to pencil into the diary each year.

It’s two fierce rivals up against one another on a big occasion.

And this year’s Goulburn Valley League clash is building to be one of the biggest in recent memory.

Both Euroa and Seymour head to Kings Park with a perfect 2-0 record to start the campaign, and although not at the peak of their powers just yet, Saturday’s latest edition of the rivalry is set to be an enthralling battle.

From its two rounds, Euroa ranks first in the competition for total ground-ball gets and has an average of 111.5 per game.

Seymour is slightly lower and is ranked eighth in the competition with an average of 69.5.

In the hard-ball gets category, Euroa is first overall with 110 to its name.

Led by star talent, Will Hayes, who has a competition-high 16, the Magpies are fighting their way to the ball in and around the contest.

This flows on to Euroa being the competition leader in contested possessions — with 297 — compared to Seymour’s 225.

A quick glance at loose-ball gets and Seymour is surprisingly fifth in the league, just one rank behind Euroa.

However, when it comes to marks, there simply isn’t any team like Ben Davey’s Lions.

Seymour leads the way with 181 marks and ex-AFL gun Michael Hartley (17) sits equal first with teammate Nathan Beattie (17).

Hartley has been a standout in defence for the Lions with 12 intercept marks, and with injuries to multiple key forwards, expect Euroa to struggle to counter his presence.

At the other end of the ground, Ryan Pendlebury has been a key pillar for the Magpies.

Pendlebury is ranked second in the comp for handball receives, with his team opting to give it to their skilful and steady key defender.

Pendlebury is using the ball at 84 per cent disposal efficiency and is ranked nine in the competition.

KEY STATS

Marks

Seymour: 181

Euroa: 143

Contested possessions

Seymour: 225

Euroa: 297

Total ground-ball gets

Seymour: 139

Euroa: 223

Clearances

Seymour: 60

Euroa: 78

Pressure acts

Seymour: 92

Euroa: 71

Tackles

Seymour: 129

Euroa: 113