GVL Data ǀ Saints and Tigers’ midfield battle set to be one for the ages

By James Kleeman

Jul 21, 2022

Nowhere to go: Rochester’s Shaun Atley and Benalla’s James Martiniello will go head-to-head in the midfield again this weekend.

Two premier midfield brigades will to go head-to-head this Saturday.

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Rochester and Benalla boast arguably two of the best on-ball units the Goulburn Valley League has to offer, and it’s in the engine room where their round 14 contest is likely to be decided this weekend.

The Tigers have welcomed the services of Shaun Atley and Hugh Hamilton back into their midfield in recent games, while Chris Jansen’s performances have been nothing short of superb this year.

Key stats

Shaun Atley v Benalla, round five

Disposals: 34

Handball receives: 17

Groundball gets: 10

Uncontested possessions: 23

Clearances: 7

Meanwhile, the Saints brigade of Will and James Martiniello and Chris Welsh have shown time and time again this year they’re kings of the clearance; all three among the league leaders in clearances and disposals this year.

Throw in Josh Marchbank’s ruck dominance to that mixture and you’ve got a potent formula for success.

And that’s where it gets interesting.

The league’s leading ruckman was a notable absentee when the two side’s met back in round five — Rochester ruck Andy Henderson helping to clean up the total hit-out count 43 to Benalla’s 14.

Henderson provided silver service to Atley and Jansen, the two Tigers’ guns registering 34 and 26 disposals respectively.

Rochester smashed Benalla on inside 50s and forward 50 marks, winning the game through its forwards who were simply more clinical and more present on the day.

But with Marchbank due to suit up for the Saints at Moon Oval this weekend, and the addition of a forward target in Jarrad Waite, the Saints will almost certainly put up more of a contest in all areas of the ground.