Summer sports are currently ruling the roost on the ovals and courts of the region, but that hasn’t stopped the football news from rolling in.
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Unlike cricket recruiting season though — where batting and bowling averages have been laid bare for all and sundry to peruse for decades online — football recruiters have only been able to rely on goals, appearances in the bests, the eye test and good old word of mouth.
Until the likes of GVL Data arrived, that is.
Let’s run the rule over some of the departing Goulburn Valley League stars and see what benchmark they might be expected to hit at their new clubs across the region’s district leagues.
Euroa’s Fletcher Paul
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Violet Town’s recruitment of Euroa stalwart JD Hayes has caused the most early stir, with Kyabram District League defensive midfielders and half-back flankers already quaking in their boots.
Availability queries loom as the only cloud over the Lindsay Park Racing co-trainer’s time as a Towner.
Hayes played 11 games for Euroa in 2024 — just four of them in the seniors — and 12 in 2023 as his racing commitments ramped up.
But when he was on the park, he was starring — which is exactly what Violet Town fans will be expecting in 2025.
Hayes averaged 20 disposals — at 73 per cent efficiency — 1.5 clearances, 2.2 inside 50s, 5.5 ground ball gets, 4.5 intercept possessions, 5 score involvements and 87.8 ranking points across his senior cameos this season.
All of those figures rank as above average compared to the rest of the league.
In tackles (5.8) and one percenters (3.2) he ranked elite.
His seven senior games in 2023 yielded an elite goal involvement average of 2.71, as well as a myriad of above average categories on the stats sheet — including disposal efficiency (73 per cent), inside 50s (3) and tackles (3.29).
2024 AVERAGES A GAME
JD Hayes
Disposals: 20
Efficiency: 73 per cent
Tackles: 5.8
One percenters: 3.2
Clearances: 1.5
Inside 50s: 2.2
Ground ball gets: 5.5
Intercept possessions: 4.5
Score involvements: 5
Ranking points: 87.8
Fletcher Paul
Hit-outs: 18.2
Hit-outs to advantage: 4.17
Clearances: 2.4
Inside 50s: 2.6
One percenters: 1.9
Spoils: 0.9
Rebound 50 efficiency: 77 per cent
Another departing Magpie is Fletcher Paul — who is heading to Finley in the Murray Football League alongside former Benalla star Nick Warnock.
Paul’s ruck work will be a key factor for Cats fans to look out for.
He averages elite hit-outs (18.2 a game) and hit-outs to advantage (4.17) in 2024 as Euroa’s second ruck option behind Andrew Smith.
His clearances (2.4), inside 50s (2.6) and one percenters (1.9) were all above average — as were his spoils (0.9) and efficiency out of defensive 50 (77 per cent).
Nick Warnock
Photo by
Alex Mitchell
It is not just departing GVL players — or those changing clubs within the league — who we can put under the stats-croscope.
Katamatite recruit Jack Gerrish comes to the Tigers on the back of a premiership-winning season with Wangaratta Rovers.
The Ovens and Murray League notes Gerrish as compiling 18 disposals, 8 contested possessions, 7 marks, 5 score involvements, 3 tackles and 94 ranking points in the three-point grand final triumph over Yarrawonga.
Mansfield has signed former Collingwood player Callum Brown — among plenty of others already mind you — who averaged 29.1 disposals, 4.5 marks and 2.9 tackles for Box Hill across his 29 games with the Hawks in the VFL.
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