GVL Data ǀ Three musketeers not enough for Benalla

A case could well be made, at least statistically, for a fifth member of the Saints line-up to be included in this conversation — the output of Jake Pallpratt earning him widespread recognition.

While the guards of French monarch, King Louis, are probably not sporting inspirations for Benalla foursome, they feature prominently in several statistical categories in the Goulburn Valley Football League.

The team, however, does not enjoy such luxuries. In fact, Benalla has the unenviable title as the lowest tackling team in the competition and is the second-worst team at committing clangers this year.

The Saints are second last for contested possessions and forward-50 marks, while they also have entered the attacking 50-metre arc more than only one team — Tatura.

But before we look at the lowlights of the season, let’s give our musketeers their due recognition.

Winning the ball earns the most recognition in statistical scenarios, so that’s where we will start — Benalla having the second, fifth and seventh most prolific players in the competition.

In spite of his recent absence, through a serious hamstring injury that has ended his season, William Martinello remains one of only five players to average more than 30 possessions.

His average of 32.4 disposals from his 13 games is marginally better than second-ranked former Kangaroos-now Rochester star Shaun Atley (eight games this season).

William Martinello remains the league’s top contested ball winner, ahead of Seymour’s Ben Rigoni and Echuca’s Jack McHale.

Popular with the umpires, the former Morrison Medallist has received the second-most free kicks (40, behind Shepparton Swans Zac Banch with 55) in the league and given away just 12.

He is ranked second for clearances, marginally behind Morrison Medal favourite and Rochester star Christopher Jansen, and just ahead of teammate Welsh.

William Martinello’s only real weakness is in the goalkicking statistic, where he has just two goals.

William and brother James (sixth for contested possessions) stood out of the Kyabram match at the weekend, which didn’t impact severely on their ranking.

James averages 26.7 disposals and is on the verge of joining the GVL’s 400 disposal club — currently occupied by his brother William, teammate Christopher Welsh, Seymour’s Jack Murphy, Bryden Squire from the Shepparton Swans, Tatura’s Billy Cooper and Rochester centreman Christopher Jansen.

Welsh is third on the disposal list after his 40-disposal Round-16 game against Kyabram. It will provide a rare bragging opportunity over the ball magnet brothers, neither of who has hit the 40 mark this season.

William Martinello has twice collected 39 possessions in a game, while James topped out at 35 disposals against Kyabam in round four

The profilic trio has achieved all of this in spite of the team winning just three games for the season.

Welsh has had the most inside-50s in the league, but with only three goals hasn’t managed to hit the scoreboard like Murphy (14 goals) and Jansen (15).

Gathering so much of the ball has come at a cost for will Martinello and Welsh, who are the two players with the most clangers in the competition.

Welsh has 47 and Martinello 41 in a category dominated by Shepparton United players — they have four of the top dozen players in regard to clangers in 2022.

Jake Pallpratt has taken the fourth most marks in the competition, behind Echuca goalkicker Kirby, the competition’s best aerialist Lachie Smith (Kyabram) and Seymour’s Riley Mason.

Of Pallpratt’s 112 marks only eight have been in a contested situation and only two inside the forward-50.

Samuel Harris’ season has netted him 360 disposals (16th) in the competition, but it is his rebounding-50 work that has won widespread acclaim.

His 107 rebounding kicks rank him second behind Shepparton defender Ted Lindon.

Harris and Lindon are almost carbon copies when it comes to their designated kicking roles, Harris having had more than 290 kicks in his disposal total.

Having celebrated the achievements of the Martinello boys, Welsh, Pallpratt and Harris the reality is that the Saints are a long way behind the competition’s best teams.

There is one statistic, however, where the club stands alone — thanks largely to Joshua Marchbank, and more recently Tom Downie.

Benalla, as a team, has 70 more hit outs than second-ranked Echuca (Kane Morris), with Mooroopna (Liam Betson), Kyabram (Zac Norris) and Euroa (Andrew Smith) next.

Marchbank’s 14 games have netted 592 hit outs (42.3), while Downie’s three appearances for the Saints have seen him average 36 hit outs (second-best average in the GVL this season).

Marchbank has been credited with 50 hit outs on three occasions this season, his personal best coming against Euroa when he had 64 hit outs.

The influence of the ruckmen has not, however, influenced the Benalla clearance ranking — sitting eighth in the competition.

Benalla averages just 44.7 tackles a game, 16 less than category leader Mansfield.

Its top-tackling player this season is Welsh, who is ranked 20th.

Jordan Wolff is the Saints highest ranked exponent of the forward-50 mark, ranked 25th in the competition. With 12 goals for the season, he is also the team’s leading goalkicker.

The Saints biggest score of the season, 13.12 (90) came in its win against Shepparton Swans.

On only two other occasions, against Tatura in a one-point round-two wins, and against the same opponent in round 13, have the Saints topped 10 goals.

Twice this season the Benalla attack has managed just two goals, on another occasion it managed only three goals and in round 11 against top-of-the-table Echuca it was kept goalless for the entire afternoon.