Throughout the 18 rounds of the Goulburn Valley League season there were countless standout performances from the competition’s plethora of star players.
There were big bags kicked by Hulk-like full-forwards.
Some midfielders had to be given an antidote after contracting leather poisoning multiple times throughout the year.
A few defenders had games so dominant that their knuckles bled.
But what were the top five solo performances of the 2024 season?
It’s a subject that every club, player and supporter would have varying opinions on how to judge — a gritty three or four-goal performance by a small forward could have more impact than a midfielder who racked up 40 disposals.
So, how best do we adjudicate the top five performances?
In times like these, we turn to the gods of GVL Data, who have kindly provided us with a simple solution: ranking points.
Ah yes.
While everyone may not agree that it is the best way to judge who had the top performance, until someone presents a better statistical/tangible way to measure the worth of a player’s impact, ranking points is the system we will use.
#5 Jacob Simpson round 13 Tatura v Mooroopna
To kick things off, we have Tatura ruck Jacob Simpson.
The star Bulldog — will take home the club best-and-fairest award, you would imagine — was in fine form against Mooroopna in round 13.
Tatura produced an inspired performance against finals-bound Mooroopna, losing the match by 20 points away from home (103-83).
Simpson led the way for the Bulldogs, collecting 28 disposals (20 effective), 20 contested possessions, 10 ground ball gets, nine tackles and six intercept possessions.
In the ruck, Simpson registered 64 hit-outs (11 to advantage), 10 clearances and one goal.
On one of Simpson’s finest days as a Goulburn Valley League footballer, he finished the match with a personal season-high ranking points of 209.
#4 Luke Smith round 4 Shepparton v Seymour
It’s no surprise to see this Shepparton star among the top five.
After returning to the club following stints for Geelong in the VFL and Katandra in the Picola District Football League, Luke Smith burst onto the Goulburn Valley League scene to start the season.
During the Bears’ round four clash against Seymour, Smith announced himself as one of the premier, must-watch players in the competition.
The star midfielder-forward nearly beat the Lions single-handedly in a jaw-dropping performance.
Through the midfield, Smith collected 40 disposals (30 effective), 18 contested possessions, 14 ground ball gets, 10 clearances and nine inside 50s.
He was also a dynamic menace up forward, kicking 8.3 and having 19 score involvements.
Smith finished the day with an impressive 215 ranking points.
#3 Jett Trotter round 17 Euroa v Benalla
In round 17, Euroa’s Jett Trotter was able to eclipse Smith’s ranking points by one, scoring 216 in a dominant day against Benalla.
The Magpies annihilated the Saints away from home by 133 points, with Euroa having 42 shots on goal compared to Benalla’s nine.
Of those 42 shots, Trotter registered eight of them, kicking 7.1 for the day.
The star Magpie was also deadly in setting up his teammates inside the forward 50, recording four goal assists and 22 score involvements.
Trotter also had his second-most disposals in a match this season, collecting 32 touches (26 effective).
Of those 32, 24 were kicks and 17 were contested, while Trotter also had 12 ground ball gets and seven intercept possessions on a day out for the gun Magpie.
The next best performances from the 2024 GVL season
6. Bryce Rutherford round 13 Mooroopna v Tatura: 208
6. Keelin Betson round 10 Mooroopna v Euroa: 208
8. Ash Holland round 9 Shepparton v Kyabram: 206
8. Mark Marriott round 18 Benalla v Tatura: 206
10. Andrew Bell round 18 Euroa v Mansfield: 204
#2 Will Hayes round 12 Euroa v Tatura
The second Magpie to make the top five and unlucky not to claim top spot after this performance against the Bulldogs.
The former AFL player was everywhere for the Magpies during their round 12 clash.
Hayes recorded 53 disposals — competition-wide season-high — in a performance that got him invited back into Carlton’s VFL side the following week.
Of those 53 disposals, 36 were effective, 25 were contested and eight were intercept possessions.
Hayes collected 19 ground ball gets, nine clearances, eight inside 50s, nine pressure acts and 10 tackles.
The gun midfielder was also busy up forward, registering eight goal involvements and kicking 1.3.
Hayes finished with 225 ranking points in the Magpies’ 94-point victory over the Bulldogs.
#1 Mark Marriott round 16 Benalla v Seymour
Benalla’s big and bustling ruckman has taken out the number one spot and has been one of the recruits of the season.
After playing for Geelong’s VFL side and Cobden in the Hampden League in 2023, Marriott returned home to Benalla during the off-season.
The talented ruck has been a shining light for the Saints in a year where Benalla has shown signs of growth and improvement.
During the Saints’ round 16 clash against Seymour, Marriott recorded the highest number of ranking points in a match by any player this season, with a whopping 229.
In the high-scoring affair — Benalla lost 138-105 — Marriott was imposing for the Saints through the middle.
The star ruck recorded 52 hit-outs (12 to advantage), nine clearances, eight inside 50s, 10 goal involvements and two goals.
Meanwhile, around the ground, Marriott finished with 30 disposals (21 effective), 21 contested possessions and three contested marks.