McPherson Media Group’s GVL Data Fantasy competition has been run and won.
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And while Rohan Aldous’ Pride of the Press — trained out of the Kyabram Free Press stable among the wider Riverine Herald cohort — gave it a good shake down the straight, it was Shepparton News sports editor Aydin Payne and his Obi Wan Giobbi outfit which was successful in the bob at the line.
Both had trailed round one (of two) leader Daniel Webb and his Red Ted Redemption crew — also out of The News office — at the turn for home, but swamped him late in the piece to fight out the finish.
Aldous’ activated emergency Tom Downie almost got him over the final hurdle in the end with a 118 at the weekend, but back-to-back 105s from team namesake Ben Giobbi was the main catalyst for a Payne victory in the Goulburn Valley League fantasy competition.
“Full credit to the boys,” Payne said.
“When it came down to it and the whips were cracking, the selection panel at Obi Wan Giobbi knew the squad had what it took to take the win.
“It’s never about who’s in front at the turn, you’ve just got to really want to greet the judge at the post more than anyone else in the race.”
Webb’s efforts were valiant, especially finding Mooroopna’s Liam Betson at an average of more than 100 points per round across the length of the fantasy competition.
Zac Standish’s Hartley’s Heroes would have been disappointed not to see his team’s namesake take to the field, but subsequently buoyed by the performance of emergency Patty Marks.
In sixth spot overall was James Kleeman and his Welsh’s Wizards — and Benalla’s Chris Welsh certainly lived up to the hype in the fantasy ranks.
Scores of 145 and 132 had him in the top 10 across each round, joining Seymour’s Riley Mason (138 and 127) as the most consistent — and outstanding — performers.
Max Stainkamph’s Worth the Waite banked six tons at the weekend — but three DNPs across his squad of 10 scuppered any chance of a late run to success.
News editor Tyler Maher’s strategy of targeting forwards for spots in his Goal’d Miners squad spectacularly backfired as he pulled up lame in the straight to finish a (very) distant last.
If you’re interested in being involved in any potential local fantasy competitions in the future, email tyler.maher@mmg.com.au
In the meantime, we’ll see you at the Moama Bowling Club for the post-fantasy celebrations.
Obi Wan Giobbi - Aydin Payne
Billy Cooper (Tatura) - 69, 104
BJ Squire (Swans) - 87, DNP
Jack Murphy (Seymour) - 151, 113
Hugh Hamilton (Rochester) - 86, 112
Chris Jansen (Rochester) - DNP, DNP
Ruory Kirkby (Echuca) - 128, 42
Chris Welsh (Benalla) - 145, 132
Ben Giobbi (Euroa) - 105, 105
Tom Downie (Benalla) - DNP, 118
EMG: Sam Reid (Echuca) - 118, 48
Round 17: 889
Round 18: 774
TOTAL: 1663
Red Ted Redemption - Daniel Webb
BJ Squire (Swans) - 87, DNP
Lachlan Smith (Kyabram) - 81, 68
Jack Murphy (Seymour) - 151, 113
Adam Pigatto (Shepp Utd) - 72, 85
Zac Banch (Swans) - 126, 82
Liam Betson (Mooroopna) - 89, 112
Andrew Smith (Euroa) - 91, 58
Ruory Kirkby (Echuca) - 128, 42
Joe Atley (Rochester) - 84, 99
EMG: Samuel Harris (Benalla) - DNP, DNP
Round 17: 909
Round 18: 659
TOTAL: 1568
Hartley’s Heroes - Zac Standish
Jack Murphy (Seymour) - 151, 113
Chris Jansen (Rochester) - DNP, DNP
Billy Cooper (Tatura) - 69, 104
BJ Squire (Swans) - 87, DNP
Ruory Kirkby (Echuca) - 128, 42
Ben Rigoni (Seymour) - 90, 78
Chris Welsh (Benalla) - 145, 132
Shaun Atley (Rochester) - 86, 97
Michael Hartley (Seymour) - DNP, DNP
EMG: Patrick Marks (Mansfield) - 77, 102
Round 17: 833
Round 18: 668
TOTAL: 1501
Welsh’s Wizards - James Kleeman
Chris Welsh (Benalla) - 145, 132
Chris Jansen (Rochester) - DNP, DNP
Chris Nield (Mooroopna) - 28, 85
Ruory Kirkby (Echuca) - 128, 42
Shaun Atley (Rochester) - 86, 97
BJ Squire (Swans) - 87, DNP
Jack Murphy (Seymour) - 151, 113
Liam Tenace (Echuca) - 93, 51
Daniel Willis (Echuca) - DNP, 48
EMG: James Martiniello (Benalla) - 90, 79
Round 17: 808
Round 18: 647
TOTAL: 1455
Worth the Waite - Max Stainkamph
Tom Downie (Benalla) - DNP, 118
Billy Cooper (Tatura) - 69, 104
BJ Squire (Swans) - 87, DNP
Jack Murphy (Seymour) - 151, 113
Chris Jansen (Rochester) - DNP, DNP
Chris Welsh (Benalla) - 145, 132
Jarrad Waite (Benalla) - DNP, 133
Hugh Hamilton (Rochester) - 86, 112
Anthony Andronaco (Shepparton) - 96, 62
EMG: Nathan Beattie (Seymour) - 7, DNP
Round 17: 641
Round 18: 774
TOTAL: 1415
Goal’d Miners - Tyler Maher
Chris Nield (Mooroopna) - 28, 85
Ruory Kirkby (Echuca) - 128, 42
Kyle Mueller (Kyabram) - 0, DNP
Michael Hartley (Seymour) - DNP, DNP
Cam Arnold (Mansfield) - 83, 115
Jarrad Waite (Benalla) - DNP, 133
Jackson Trengove (Mooroopna) - 20, 46
Steven Stroobants (Rochester) - 103, 82
Mitch Cricelli (Rochester) - 108, 75
EMG: Anthony Andronaco (Shepp) - 96, 62
Round 17: 566
Round 18: 640
TOTAL: 1206
GVL DATA FANTASY LEADERBOARD
Obi Wan Giobbi (Aydin Payne) - 1663
Pride of the Press (Rohan Aldous) - 1629
Red Ted Redemption (Daniel Webb) - 1568
Hartley’s Heroes (Zac Standish) - 1501
B75 Blazers (Bransen Gibson) - 1500
Welsh’s Wizards (James Kleeman) - 1455
Worth the Waite (Max Stainkamph) - 1415
Huntly’s Heroes (Josh Huntly) - 1304
Disco Shoulders (Gregor Mactaggart) - 1235
Goal’d Miners (Tyler Maher) - 1206
HIGHEST DATA POINTS - ROUND 18
144 - Ethan Hunt (Mooroopna)
135 - Zac Keogh (Kyabram)
134 - Nathan Kay (Rochester)
133 - Jarrad Waite (Benalla)
132 - Chris Welsh (Benalla)
127 - Riley Mason (Seymour)
123 - Jake Pallpratt (Benalla)
121 - Jono Aujard (Mansfield)
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