The Bears’ season has seen the club jump from being on the edge of the top six in 2023 to playing Echuca in the 2024 grand final.
Shepparton’s depth of midfield star power and its hybrid forward line mix has, externally at least, taken a lot of the credit for the Bears’ meteoric rise.
However, a reliable, classy, silk-footed defender flies quietly under the radar but has been a major influence on Shepparton’s emergence as a premier side in the Goulburn Valley League.
Using GVL Data, we have analysed defender Jonty Wardle’s influence in 2024; and in particular, his run of hot form leading into Sunday’s grand final.
Although Wardle has been a solid performer all season for the Bears, from round 17 onwards the reliable defender has been a class above.
In his past five games, Wardle has averaged 22 disposals at 84 per cent efficiency.
Floating through the backline, the clean and tough Bear has averaged eight intercept possessions and 9.6 marks per game.
Wardle has averaged 122.6 ranking points per game since round 17, demonstrating his influence on each match.
A key part of Shepparton’s run to the 2024 grand final, Wardle’s best two games over the past five weeks have been against Shepparton Swans in round 17 and Mooroopna in the semi-final.
In the Bears’ 90-point victory over the Swans, Wardle had 26 disposals (22 effective), 10 intercept possessions, 15 marks (two contested), six score involvements (three goal involvements) and 141 ranking points.
During Shepparton’s 64-point semi-final win against Mooroopna, Wardle had assassin-like efficiency by hand and foot.
Across his 21 disposals, he didn’t miss a single target, going at 100 per cent with his five handballs and 16 kicks.
Wardle also had five intercept possessions, 10 marks, four spoils, five score involvements and 127 ranking points.
Jonty Wardle’s laser-like game against Mooroopna
Ranking points: 127
Disposals: 21
Kicks: 16
Disposal efficiency: 100 per cent
Intercept possessions: 5
Marks: 10
Spoils: 4
Goal involvements: 4
This Sunday, Wardle and the Bears will face the Murray Bombers, the league’s most potent and evenly spread forward line.
Echuca is the best attacking team in the Goulburn Valley League, averaging 16.5 goals per game — 1.4 more goals than second-ranked Shepparton — yet no Murray Bombers sit in the top 10 for goals kicked in the competition in 2024.
Star utility Liam Tenace is the highest-ranked Echuca player, sitting 14th on the leaderboard with 35 goals.
This demonstrates the Murray Bombers' versatility in the forward line and the Herculean task that Wardle and fellow defenders Mitch Brett, Ted Lindon, Bryce Stephenson, Ethan Baxter, Max Brodie and Oscar Lambourn will face on Sunday during the highly anticipated decider.
The grand final will be held at Deakin Reserve, with the first bounce at 2.40pm.
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