In what was a nail-biting contest for the first three quarters, the Lions were able to kick away substantially in the final term, handing the away team its 12th loss of the 2024 season.
On a perfectly sunny day in Seymour, the first quarter was a fast and furious affair. Both teams were able to convert their chances at a high rate, with the first quarter ending at 6.2 (38) to 5.2 (32) in favour of the Lions.
“It was a bit of a shootout, it was pretty hot and obviously the Seymour ground is really wide, especially for GV standards, but early on I thought we played really well,” injured coach Jarrad Waite said.
It was much of the same as the second term unfolded. Largely a goal-for-goal quarter again, but the Seymour midfield was able to get a bit more of a hold on the game. Taking advantage of their 3.1 (19) from stoppage, the Lions were able to add to their quarter-time lead, taking a 13-point advantage into the main break.
“We sort of tried to play a bit more aggressively with Mark’s (Marriott) domination in the ruck, I think after that we went back to our normal structures to try and get the game back on our terms,” Waite said.
“I’m always going to try and be a bit more aggressive in that area, but we also have to be a lot more defensively minded.”
Coming out of the locker rooms after the half, the Saints displayed some of their best football of the season.
Led by Mark Marriott’s Inspirational third term of 11 disposals (nine contested) and four clearances, the Saints were able to tighten the gap. A five-goal-to-three quarter set up a tantalising three-point game going into the last, a test of the lessons learnt throughout a trying 2024.
“We’re really building and happy with the progress of the group, at the moment, probably our fitness and running out games has been an issue,” Waite said.
“It was a really hot day and very much a shootout. We had one of our boys go down early with a hamstring, so you lose that rotation early in the game and we were out on our legs.”
The Saints struggled in the quarter that meant most. While the 17-18 turnover count read almost identical, it was Seymour’s ability to hurt on the counterattack that was the undoing of the Saints.
The Lions were able to score 4.2 (26) directly from Saint turnovers in the fourth quarter alone, taking 10 marks inside 50 compared to Benalla’s one. Seymour was simply more direct and efficient when it needed it the most.
Despite the loss, those that were there to see the game may have seen one of the all-time great GVL rucking performances. In a losing effort, Marriott was best player on the ground by a stretch with a stat line you have to see to believe.
“Mark’s phenomenal. He gives our mids first opportunity, but what Mark is, he’s so good around the ground, he ran with the midfielders all preseason and he manages to get forward and kicks goals,” Waite said.
“You’d like to have a couple of him!”
Chris Welsh and James Martiniello were also fantastic, combining for 36 contested possessions, 21 clearances and nine tackles, while Phillip Edgar added five majors of his own.
With two games to go in the 2024 season, Waite and the Saints are still striving towards continued growth, with wins always on the agenda.
“We’ve got Euroa this week which is a great opportunity to get a win,” Waite said.
“We’re really focusing on trying to finish the season off strongly.”
