Lions hungry to bounce back in 2023

By Aydin Payne

Mar 24, 2023

Lining up: Riley Mason. Photo by Daniel Webb

Over the past six months Seymour has had one figure on its mind — 0.19 per cent.

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The Lions, who entered last year’s Goulburn Valley League season as premiership fancies, crashed out of finals contention in the most gut-wrenching of fashions.

With more than a dozen senior starters sidelined through injury, including 2021 Morrison Medal winner Jack O’Sullivan, the Lions struggled to recapture their impressive 2021 form.

It was 0.19 percentage points which locked the Lions to seventh spot and out of the top six.

“There’s no doubt it hurt the whole group last year,” Lions coach Ben Davey said.

“It really spurred the group on though, we’re such a close-knit club and we got to ride the wave of our senior netballers as they enjoyed their finals run.

“We used 43 players through the senior side which gives you a fair idea of the impact injuries had, but we take positives out of it, which is getting game time out of guys who wouldn’t have got a run.”

The off-season has been impacted by last year’s devastating floods and up until March, the Lions’ spiritual home of Kings Park has been out of bounds.

But with the season only weeks away, Davey said there was an air of optimism and excitement that the Lions could bounce back in 2023.

O’Sullivan missed all of last season but is “flying” according to Davey.

Michael Hartley, who juggled VFL commitments last year, is locked in full-time to run amok on-field and provide coaching duties off the field.

Talented on-baller Dylan Cook is focused on club level which will bolster a midfield brigade led by classy user Jack Murphy, while forward Riley Mason is tipped to improve once more.

Kyle Winter-Irving has departed, while last year’s Morrison medallist Ben Rigoni and star youngster Nick Quigg have signed at VFL club Coburg.

The Lions have welcomed ruckman Will Brock, forward Nathan Fowler and former VFL on-baller Ricky Schraven.

“We’ll look to continue on the path we’ve been going on for the past few years and we’re keen to do a bit better than last year,” Davey said.

Running gun: Jack Murphy. Photo by Aydin Payne

FINISHING RANGE: 4TH–6TH

Everybody expected Seymour to challenge for the flag last year but the whopping injury list ravaged Ben Davey’s side.

They should play finals football when you consider the amount of stars returning and the fact former AFL talent Michael Hartley is locked in full-time to offer his services.

2022 top performers (average per game)

Disposals: Jack Murphy (29.7)

Contested possessions: Ben Rigoni (13.4)

Uncontested possessions: Jack Murphy (21.1)

Marks: Riley Mason (8.8)

Tackles: Ben Rigoni (6.6)

Rebound 50s: Jack Murphy (4.2)

Inside 50s: Nick Quigg (5.2)

Data points: Jack Murphy (118.0)

Clearances: Ben Rigoni (5.7)

Kick efficiency: Tom Martin (86%)

Michael Hartley

2022 season stats

Disposals: 14.1

Data points: 90.8

Forward-50 marks: 4.4

FAST FACTS

JOINED LEAGUE: 1940; 1976 TO PRESENT NICKNAME: LIONS HOME GROUND: KINGS PARK COACH: BEN DAVEY PRESIDENT: GERARD O’SULLIVAN PREMIERSHIPS: 1976, 1981, 1982, 1991, 2005, 2006, 2007 MORRISON MEDALLISTS: C.FROELICH (1940), G.LIDDELL (1978), J.SOLOMON (1989), S.SCHOTTNER (2004) J.O’SULLIVAN (2021), BEN RIGONI (2022) 2021 FINISH: THIRD (9-2) 2022 BEST-AND-FAIREST: JACK MURPHY 2022 LEADING GOAL-KICKER: MICHAEL HARTLEY (33)