Although sitting ninth on the ladder with just three wins to their name, the Swans have shown themselves to be more than competitive against the competition’s top sides, making this a definite danger game for the Lions.
In their last home game, the Swans took it right up to dominant ladder-leader Echuca in the early stages, getting right on top in general play to send a scare through the Murray Bombers camp.
Winning the contested possession count by eight, disposals by 24, tackles by 12 and breaking even in inside 50s, it was just inaccurate kicking that cost the young Swans, whose return of 1.7 wasn’t enough to put Echuca under pressure.
But what that stanza did show is that they know how to bring the heat, which is something the Seymour brains trust will certainly have to keep in mind.
Across their 12 games this season, Shepparton Swans have laid 748 tackles, enough to have them sitting third in the competition.
They also have had no trouble getting their hands on the footy, sitting fourth in disposals at 329.5 per game.
Key stats
Shepparton Swans season stats
Tackles: 62.5 per game (third)
Disposals: 329.5 per game (fifth)
Contested possessions: 132.9 per game (fourth)
Total points for: 774 (eighth)
Inside 50s: 46.0 per game (seventh)
One area where the Swans have struggled, however, is turning those disposals into scores, sitting eighth in total points and seventh in inside 50s per game.
In terms of the players that Seymour will need to keep an eye on, premier midfielder B.J. Squire is the first name that springs to mind.
At a glance
B.J. Squire in 2022
Disposals: 27.2
Kicks: 16.5
Handballs: 10.7
Marks: 5.5
Ground ball gets: 8.6
A ball-winning machine, Squire averages a whopping 27.2 disposals per game this season, with his past month being particularly impressive, surpassing 30 touches in each of his past four matches.
Young gun Max Clohesy is another the Lions will need to curtail as he returns to the Swans while the Murray Bushrangers enjoy a bye.
Featuring in their last match against Echuca, Clohesy was clinical across half-back, collecting 28 disposals while using the ball at an ultra impressive 82 per cent efficiency.
So while many will be automatically pencilling in a Seymour victory this weekend, the GVL Data shows the Lions will need to be at their best to come back down the Hume Highway with the four points.
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