GVL Data | Key areas of improvement for winless duo ahead of clash

A cursory glance at the records of both outfits has Shepparton with an average losing margin of 20.66 and Rochester’s sitting at 47 ― but it is never as simple as that.

Delving deeper into the GVL Data, we can see where victory has escaped both sides so far.

For Rochester, getting the ball into attack ― and keeping it there ― has presented a large problem in the opening forays of the season.

The Tigers rank outside the top 10 in the league for average marks inside 50, forward 50 tackles and inside 50s.

They sit 10th for goals a game (7.7) and ninth for average scoring efficiency (39%), while they also sit eighth for disposal efficiency (68%) and second for turnovers (72.3).

As a collective, getting the ball has been an issue for Rochester.

The side ranks 10th for groundball gets (67.7), ninth for disposals (290.7) and outside the top 10 in contested possessions and clearances.

But individually, Joe Atley and Blake Evans are fourth and ninth in disposals respectively across the competition ― averaging 31.7 and 27.7 touches a game each ― while Atley is third, third and ninth in contested possessions, clearances and groundball gets a game.

The Tigers are moving the ball well out of defence ― sitting first for rebound 50s with 37 a game and fifth for intercept marks with 14 ― and are working hard without the ball (55 tackles a game, ranked sixth), but need more flashes of brilliance from their wider troops to help turn the tide.

As for the Bears, the importance of aerial improvement is no doubt being imparted onto the playing group this week.

Shepparton ranks outside the top 10 in the league for contested and intercept marks, and sixth overall for marks with 76.3 a game.

The Bears are also ninth for marks inside 50 with 8.3, despite sitting in the top half of the competition for inside 50s (41.3) ― with a scoring efficiency for their nine goals a game (ranked eighth) of 36.3 per cent placing them 10th in the league.

Although Shepparton is second for one percenters a game with 51.7, it is outside the top 10 for tackles and seventh for forward 50 tackles (8.3).

The Bears rank fourth in disposals, kicks and handballs and fifth in clearances ― so getting the ball is not necessarily their biggest concern, but getting it back from the opposition more promptly is a high priority.

Ted Lindon leads the league for rebound 50s a game with nine, while Tyler Bell, Jayden Gagliardi and Connor Fleming are in the top 10 in the comp for one percenters per outing.