Off The Ball | The GVL’s top 10 at the halfway point

1. Joe Atley – Rochester: 1235 ranking points

Joe Atley has been in scintillating form this season for Rochester, earning himself the mantle of the number one player in the league after round nine.

The midfield bull has averaged 31 disposals a game, 16 of which have been contested, eight clearances, six marks, four inside-50s, and just under five score involvements a game.

Alongside his four intercept possessions and a goal assist, Atley is ranked as elite in all of these stats, a mightily impressive feat that must see him as a frontrunner in the Morrison Medal conversation.

The fact that Atley is performing so strongly is in stark contrast to the fortunes of the Tigers, who remain with just one win from nine games, and raises an interesting question: will the lack of Rochester wins count against Atley in the league best-and-fairest voting?

When looking at past winners, it would seem as though it might.

Of the 12 Morrison medallists since 2010, three have come from the side on top of the ladder. A further five have been from sides within the top four, while Guy Campbell won it playing for Rochester in 2011, when the Tigers finished fifth.

On three occasions, there has been a league best-and-fairest who didn’t play finals, although on each of those occasions, their side was placed seventh, and was at least in contention.

Echuca’s Simon Buckley won back-to-back Morrisons in 2016-17, each time with the Murray Bombers finishing in seventh with an 8-10 record.

Last year, Ben Rigoni was judged the best in the GV, with Seymour finishing seventh, although his side still maintained a positive win-loss record, claiming 11 wins and missing finals by only 0.2 per cent.

Atley has been a shining light this season for Rochester and is rightfully ranked as the top player in the league to this point, and if he continues this form, should be standing on stage as the toast of the GV in a few months.

Yet, it seems ridiculous that for all of his brilliance, he may miss out on the recognition of being the league’s best player, an individual award, due to the fact his team has not been able to win.

That is a conversation to be had later, but for now, Atley remains the Goulburn Valley League’s standout performer.

2. Samuel Reid – Echuca: 1201 ranking points

In a champion team, Sam Reid has definitely been the champion player, leading his side by example as the Murray Bombers make it to the halfway point of the season undefeated.

One of three Echuca co-coaches, Reid has averaged 25 disposals a game, 13 of which have been contested, while also hurting the opposition on the scoreboard with two goals a game.

The former GWS Giant also averages just shy of eight clearances, four inside-50s, eight tackles and seven score involvements, all of which are regarded as elite.

His most recent performance against Mooroopna was a showcase of his unbelievable ability to impact in every aspect of the game, notching 25 touches, six clearances, two goals and a remarkable 17 tackles.

Back-to-back flags will be the goal for Reid and his teammates, but a fine individual season to this point will have him alongside Atley and a few others as the leading candidates for the Morrison Medal.

3. Lachlan Murphy-Dale – Mansfield: 1171 ranking points

Lachlan Murphy-Dale has been enjoying a super consistent season for Mansfield, providing his side with a strong presence in the midfield as it looks to secure a finals spot.

The Eagles clearance machine wins the ball eight times per game from the stoppage, with 12 of his 27 disposals being contested.

With one goal and one goal assist per game, the inside player makes his impact felt directly on the scoreboard, while also pumping the ball inside 50 four times per game, another elite stat.

4. Will Hayes – Euroa: 1138 ranking points

What a start this man has made in his return to the GVL.

The former AFL Bulldog and Blue has slipped seamlessly into the Euroa side, showcasing every single bit of ability that had him picked up by Carlton in last season’s mid-year draft.

Will Hayes leads the competition for disposals, averaging a massive 36 touches per game, while also winning 12 contested possessions and five clearances from the centre.

His disposals are meaningful too, with his 12 effective kicks per game ranking him inside the top 10 league-wide.

He is also ranked elite with six tackles and six score involvements per game, while slotting an average of one goal every time he takes to the field.

With a genuinely elite running capacity, Hayes has been a class above in his eight games so far this season, and in many eyes, is leading the pack for the Morrison Medal as the season ticks over the halfway mark.

5. Nathan Hrovat – Shepparton Swans: 1093 ranking points

Another former AFL player, having lined up for the Kangaroos, Nathan Hrovat has been in seriously good form for the past six weeks.

The star on-baller has collected 30 or more disposals in each of his past six games, the longest such streak in the league, including consecutive efforts of 39, 41 and 37 disposals from round seven to round nine.

The ball magnet has averaged 31 disposals per game this season, including nine contested possessions and six clearances.

He also leads the league with just shy of eight uncontested marks per game, as well as in uncontested disposals with 22.

With the Swans failing to fire, Hrovat’s season has been somewhat underrated to this point, however his recent efforts have been easily one of the richest veins of form this season.

6. Zac Norris – Kyabram: 1069 ranking points

The Bombers big man has been a dominant force at the centre circle, following up his ruck work to accrue the most clearances of any player so far this season.

Averaging 10 clearances per game from 20 disposals, Zac Norris has also been displaying his elite ruck craft — despite only averaging the seventh most hit-outs in the league, he manages seven to advantage, which is good enough for third best across the league.

Showcasing strong hands, Norris also pulls down nearly two contested marks per game, 12th best among all players, while also notching five score involvements per game.

Norris has been a key cog in Kyabram’s rise back up the ladder, as the Bombers sit third after nine rounds.

7. Adam De Cicco – Shepparton Bears: 1060 ranking points

After crossing over from Murray League outfit Cobram at the start of this season, Adam De Cicco has been a presence from the first bounce for Shepparton this season.

With 24 touches at 75 per cent efficiency, De Cicco has been clinical in his ball use while also cracking in at the contest, racking up nine contested possessions and five clearances per game.

He isn’t all about attack either, averaging the second highest number of effective tackles per game in the league with five, while also ranking fifth for goal assists, averaging 1.1 per game.

The Bears sit two games outside of the top six with nine rounds to play, and De Cicco will be a big factor if they manage to pull themselves into the finals.

8. Jack O’Sullivan – Seymour: 1009 ranking points

The first of two previous Morrison medallists inside the top 10 at the halfway mark, Jack O’Sullivan has again been a big ball-winner for the Lions.

The midfielder has averaged 25 disposals so far this season, with 11 of them being contested. He has also averaged six clearances and four tackles per game, which both also rank as elite.

With just shy of six score involvements per game, as well as five inside-50s, O’Sullivan has been an instrumental part of Seymour’s charge this season, with the Lions second on the ladder, having lost just one game.

O’Sullivan has shared the workload with another member of the top 10, making up one half of an elite on-baller duo that has firmed as a genuine contender to Echuca’s crown.

9. Ben Rigoni – Seymour: 993 ranking points

The 2022 Morrison medallist has been in great touch yet again for Seymour this season, earning a place inside the league’s top 10 players with half of the season played.

Teaming up with O’Sullivan to terrorise opposition midfielders, Ben Rigoni notches 23 touches at a tidy 75 per cent efficiency each game, while also winning 11 contested possessions and six clearances, all of which are elite.

Rigoni also puts the ball inside the attacking arc on four occasions per game, with five score involvements and a goal assist all contributing towards his top 10 ranking.

His efforts might not earn him a second-consecutive Morrison, but he is certainly giving his side every chance of contending for the ultimate prize.

10. Ethan Penrith – Tatura: 992 ranking points

Ethan Penrith has been the standout Bulldogs player this season, and is deserving of his place inside the top 10 after a fantastic start to the year.

Averaging 22 disposals, Penrith also manages 10 contested possessions and five clearances, while also recording six tackles per game, five of which are effective, the third-highest number in the GVL.

The Tatura midfielder earns the most free kicks per game in the league, averaging three every outing, while his four pressure acts every game are good enough for second-best of any player this season.