Seymour’s Goulburn Valley League season may be over in terms of its search for senior silverware in 2024, but the building blocks for future campaigns are being laid right in front of supporters’ eyes.
On Saturday at Kings Park, the Lions got the better of Benalla in a high-scoring shootout. But what was more pleasing than the consolation win was the continued prowess of its youngest players.
Josh Porter and Tom Wardley made their senior debuts, joining a host of under-18 Lions who have done the same this season.
Both contributed well, the former with 11 disposals, six marks, four pressure acts and three score involvements, and the latter with 10 disposals, five tackles and six pressure acts.
But for an example of the medium-to-long term benefit of their outings, those in attendance did not have to look far.
Riley Mason, a growing star of the GVL at just 22 himself, has been at home at senior level for the Lions since joining in 2022.
It hasn’t taken him long to go from being a promising young talent playing his role to one of the first names on the board at selection on a Thursday night.
At the weekend he had 30 disposals (at 80 per cent efficiency), 16 marks, five inside 50s, seven goals, 13 score involvements and a mammoth 193 ranking points.
Tom Maloney also starred, especially in the final term, racking up 15 of his 33 disposals and three of his 11 clearances in the last stanza alone as Seymour put the foot down with seven goals to two.
TOM MALONEY Fourth quarter vs Benalla
Disposals: 15
Marks: 4
Inside 50s: 3
Clearances: 3
Goals: 1
Ranking points: 63
PLAYER OF THE WEEK Riley Mason vs Benalla
Disposals: 30
Efficiency: 80%
Marks: 16
Inside 50s: 5
Goals: 7
Score involvements: 13
Ranking points: 193