Premium Wednesdays | Determining the mid-season all-Goulburn Valley League 22 for 2024

Of course, in Goulburn Valley League, you see something resembling a preview of this with the interleague event.

There are separate gripes one could have with that, though, which would mirror the gripes of all-star games that happen in the US at, or sometimes even before, the halfway mark of their league seasons.

Honestly, whose idea was it to crown someone an All-Star for that given year after maybe 70 games of a 162-game season in Major League Baseball?

Tangent aside, we know there’ll be a formal Team of the Year for this competition at season’s end — the way it should be.

In the interim, though, since there’s nothing binding about selecting a mid-season all-star team here, what’s the harm in rewarding a few handy contributors?

Some names might, as the old cliche goes, ‘write themselves’ into this starting 18 in the eyes of some, but there have been a raft of genuine contenders across virtually every position.

What are the metrics involved in deciding the team, you’ve surely asked by now?

Well, it’s not restricted merely to who picks up the most ranking points, though they are a helpful guideline for GVL Data analysis.

All kinds of stats are factored in — and the results have put far less weight on team success than one may assume.

Note: Statistics were recorded prior to the start of the league’s split round, for the sake of fairness.

Yeah, these are always difficult.

Before jumping down anyone’s throat about the 20 other names that will invariably be regarded as ‘stiff’ or ‘must play badminton’, though, let’s go over the substance.

Almost none have been more defensively potent than Hamish Hooppell — end of.

Averaging 2.2 intercept marks, 8.7 intercept touches and 6.8 rebound 50s a game, little thought was required to include him.

In the opposite pocket, United’s Aaron Britten could play on any forward with league top-10 rankings in spoils, intercept marks and one-percenters.

On the flanks, Bulldogs mainstay Brad Ryan has the chance to push up from his usual role as a kick-in specialist, leading the competition in effective rebound 50s — if only we had the numbers for metres gained.

Opposite Ryan, Mooroopna’s Isaac Dowling stands as one of the league’s top 20 ball users while averaging more tackles inside defensive 50 than any other Cat.

The key defenders prompted their share of debate, with Shepparton’s Bryce Stephenson probably next in line, but the Lions’ man of steel at the back simply could not be ignored even with two games missed.

Only one player averages more intercept marks each week, while Lachlan Waite’s aerial prowess helps earn him the nod with elite rankings for contested grabs and spoils.

Defensive Tiger force Ryan O’Keefe currently sits as the league’s best spoiler and one-percenter machine and, like Ryan, doesn’t mind a clearing kick-in if necessary either.

Into the midfield, where Seymour’s Nathan Beattie more than looks at home on a wing with 34 touches a game to go with 8.2 uncontested marks and 6.6 tackles.

The lone Murray Bomber in this mid-season squad, which came as a surprise even after the list was finalised, Jack McHale is the current king of the contest not only with more contested possessions, but as the league’s most prolific hard ball getter.

Euroa’s Silver Yousif was initially considered on the left side mostly for his impact as a damaging rotational mid-forward, but Jed Woods simply had too much to offer with his sixth-ranked tackle count and his top-20 goal assists tally.

Hybrid players in the competition haven’t come any better than Shepparton dynamo Luke Smith, who has made his return to his former premiership side look like no time passed at all with ferocious top-five listings in score involvements (second), centre clearances and contested possessions (fifth).

Seymour’s top target in Riley Mason further enshrined his deserving place in this squad with a bag of six at the weekend against Mansfield, moving to 35 goals for the year alongside his title as the league’s best contested marker with 3.8 a game.

Swans spearhead Steele Simpson offers a different type of target; he’s kept the scoreboard ticking in his own right, but sits in the top dozen players for goal assists and marks inside 50, proving a potent link-up man.

Kyabram’s new favourite weapon in Anthony Depasquale — a name nobody can get enough of in the papers, cough cough — slots in a pocket as far and away the most prolific goal-kicker going around while also averaging 1.7 tackles inside 50 a game, good for 11th-best.

Cats juggernaut Daniel Johnston has proven to be everything one could want in a rampaging full-forward, sitting second on the goal charts with only eight matches played and clunking more grabs inside 50 a game than anyone else, as well as ranking second at the Cats for hard ball gets.

Rounding out the offence is Rochester dynamo Sean Williams, who has flown under the radar at times, but has popped up with a couple of big bags to join the 30-goal club during the Tigers’ fairytale run.

The followers begin, obviously, with a pair of Bears headed by Ash Holland in the ruck, who has monstered all who stand before him with an advantage of more than 160 hit-outs on the league’s next best.

His partner in crime Adam De Cicco roves first, coming second in the league for total disposals while advancing the ball brilliantly with the second-most loose ball gets and the third-most inside 50s on average.

Following closely behind in the disposal tally — but sure to make the most of Holland’s tap work all the same — is Mooroopna gun Coby McCarthy, among the elite in clearances around the ground and creating 3.5 turnovers a week in the midfield.

As far as a second purpose-built ruckman, Swans powerhouse Mark Kovacevic is an obvious choice for the interchange as a contest and clearance beast who still averages a goal a game.

The on-ball brigade was easily the most stacked and varied in terms of viable contenders, and clearance and tackle leader Mitch Trewhella provides extremely capable support as the man who makes things happen in the middle for Rochester.

Mansfield’s Dirk Koenen is the defensive pivot, leading his side and sitting top 10 overall for intercept marks and spoils, only just barely missing the 18.

Similarly to Trewhella, Kyabram engine room operator Liam Ogden offers plenty going into attack off the bench with five inside 50s a game (13th) and a knack for claiming the neutral possession (eighth in ground ball gets).

Pitchforks and torches aside, there are probably 15 or 20 others deserving of honourable mentions and spots as emergencies, but such is the nature of the game.

We can save time by skipping that section, but one can rest easy knowing the Goulburn Valley League is in full flight with a wide-ranging wealth of top talent on display everywhere — after all, 11 out of 12 clubs are represented in the above team.