Some days you can work tirelessly with gut-busting runs, tackle opponents hard, hunt the football and still get nowhere near the Sherrin.
Other days the ball is drawn to you like a magnet.
On Saturday afternoon in the final round of the Goulburn Valley League season, Euroa’s Andrew Bell had a day to remember as the Magpies travelled to Mansfield.
Euroa’s veteran midfielder has had a strong season, featuring in 17 matches.
Across those games, Bell has averaged 23.1 disposals, 12.3 contested possessions, 6.2 clearances, 5.1 tackles and 5.5 score involvements.
It has been an impressive season to date, but the Magpie’s round 18 performance against the Eagles will surely ring a Bell for Euroa supporters for many years to come.
Bell started the match in a bullocking manner, collecting 11 disposals (nine contested), three clearances and seven ground ball gets in the first quarter.
In the second term, Bell repeated his earlier efforts by racking up another 11 disposals and two goal involvements.
At the halfway mark of the match, sitting on 22 touches already, it would not have been surprising to see Bell slow down a touch since he was playing in the final half of the home and away season.
But Bell quickly busted that belief.
The midfielder had his biggest quarter of the day in the third term as he tried to drag Euroa back into the contest — Mansfield led the match 70-40 at half-time.
Bell had 14 disposals (12 effective), 10 contested possessions, four clearances, five score involvements and one goal.
The veteran Magpie’s ballistic third term helped his side back into the contest, with Euroa cutting the margin to 15 points at three-quarter time.
Andrew Bell’s mammoth game against Mansfield
Ranking points: 204
Disposals: 49 (35 effective)
Kicks: 24
Handballs: 25
Contested possessions: 30
Ground ball gets: 23
Clearances: 12
Goal involvements: 7
Although the Eagles regained control in the final term, Bell never dropped his head or work rate.
His 13 disposals (10 effective), four inside 50s, three clearances and five ground ball gets were valiant, but couldn’t help Euroa as it fell to Mansfield by 41 points.
Unfortunately for Bell, he also fell agonisingly short of an incredible solo achievement, finishing the day with 49 disposals — one short of raising the bat to borrow a cricketing term.
Fortunately for Bell, the gun midfielder’s season continues with Euroa finishing in sixth place and qualifying for the first elimination final against Rochester on Sunday.
Euroa will be hoping for some more midfield heroics from their veteran because if he can repeat his round 18 effort against the rampaging Rochester, the Magpies’ season might just be saved by the Bell this Sunday.