GVL Data

GVL Data | Tackling machine Sam Willoughby

By Bransen Gibson

Jul 12, 2022

That’s a wrap: Sam Willoughby is leading the Bottle Greens in tackles this season, wrapping up 60 opponents in 2022. Photo: Steve Huntley

The saying goes that if you find something you truly love, never let it go.

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If that’s the case, Echuca’s Sam Willoughby must really love the Magpies after amassing a surplus of tackles against Euroa on Saturday.

Willoughby wrapped up 10 opponents against the Magpies, the most tackles of anyone on the field on the day.

The Murray Bombers midfielder has had more tackles than the local bait shop in recent weeks after he also wrapped up 11 Saints during Echuca’s round 11 clash against Benalla.

Willoughby has been all over his opponents like cling wrap — he leads the Bottle Greens with 60 tackles this season, a total that also ranks inside the top 10 in the Goulburn Valley League in 2022.

He has eight more wrap-ups than Echuca’s next leading tackler Jack McHale and 12 more than Riley Smith with the third most.

Willoughby sits eighth overall in the GVL for tackles this season, an impressive feat in a side that is leading the league in disposals and spends a majority of the time with the ball in its possession.

As a team, Echuca ranks ninth in the competition for total tackles with 598 — 169 fewer than top tackling side Shepparton United.