Shepparton News presents its 2024 Goulburn Valley League senior football team of the year

Eventually, of course, Echuca broke away when all the chips were down and produced a historic display on the Deakin Reserve turf to lift a third premiership cup on the trot — not just as far as seniors, but its third on grand final day itself after claiming the under-18 and reserves flags.

The Murray Bombers proved themselves an undeniable champion team once again, but that doesn’t guarantee them all a place in the individually charged team of the year produced by The News.

There were standouts from across the league, with nine out of the competition’s 12 sides represented in this mouth-watering group of 22.

Earlier in the season, the Premium Wednesdays column unveiled a mid-season team of the year, and the majority of those included have held their place at season’s end.

The simplest thing to do in this case is break the selections down line by line, starting with the defensive end:

Backline

Two changes across the back six from the mid-season team of the year — and you only had to rewrite half of one of their names.

Curtis Ryan replaces fellow Bulldog Brad on a half-back flank, miles out in front as the league’s most prolific earner of rebound 50s in a Tatura side which was forced to repel more attacks than any other.

Hamish Hooppell remained one of the league’s premier interceptors through his 18 games, Lachlan Waite was rock-solid as a one-out key defender in a challenged Seymour backline (third for average intercept marks and sixth for average intercept possessions) and Jed Woods is moved from a wing into the back pocket with his 7.8 tackles a game ranked sixth.

Rochester backbone Ryan O’Keefe was a shoo-in, first in the league for his average spoils and one percenters, while Cat Isaac Dowling retains the other flank as one of the league’s most reliable kicks (80 per cent by foot) and effective rebound 50s.

Midfield

A change across the centre line with Swans dynamo Zac Alderton entering the side in the place vacated by Woods’ move to the back pocket.

A top-five finisher in the best-and-fairest, he did a bit of everything with plenty of contested ball, while also demonstrating flashes of dash when the wheels were called upon.

Seymour possession machine Nathan Beattie more than handily retains his place having seen more home and away ball than anyone, while premiership star Jack McHale was one of the most prominent in-and-under specialists going around with a competition-best contested possession tally.

Forwards

The half-forward line is the only trio left unchanged from its mid-season iteration, with Shepparton star Luke Smith, who registered as elite in almost every relevant category during a phenomenal year, joins league leading goal-kicker Riley Mason on the arc.

Alongside them is Steele Simpson, whose potency as a forward target was matched by his own ability to serve as a powerful link for the Swans when in possession a kick and a half from home.

There is one substitution in the full-forward line, but Bombers gun Anthony Depasquale and powerful Cat Daniel Johnston were never in jeopardy of losing their spots after each dominated up front on a regular basis in finals-bound sides.

Shepparton’s Lewis McShane is included adjacent to those two standard bearers, with the Bears forward displaying better pressure (1.7 tackles inside 50, 2.2 marks inside 50 and eight score involvements a game) than almost any other attacker around.

Followers

No selection comes more rusted on than reigning Morrison medallist and squad captain Ash Holland, who was instrumental in keeping Shepparton’s engine room firing on all cylinders in a memorable year back at Deakin Reserve.

Of course, nobody benefitted more than Adam De Cicco, who led all comers league-wide in pressure acts, inside 50s and loose ball gets, while Rochester gun Mitch Trewhella comes off the mid-season bench to take his rightful starting place after coming within a vote of best-and-fairest recognition.

Bench

All four members of the interchange present different faces, with three entering the side for the first time.

Coby McCarthy was the true hard luck non-starter, moved to the bench after Trewhella caught fire down the stretch, but nonetheless averaged a tremendous 137 ranking points, 34.6 disposals and 8.5 clearances in a glittering campaign.

Benalla’s lone representative in Mark Marriott arrives as the understudy ruck in place of mid-season pick Mark Kovacevic, having earned a top-five best-and-fairest finish in a difficult 2024 for the Saints.

Two integral cogs in the three-time premiership Murray Bomber machine also come in for the final team with hybrid tall Liam Tenace shining in all aerial pursuits with 2.8 contested marks and 20 hit-outs a game as Echuca’s top goal-scorer, while Jackson Stewart comes in as a deputy to McShane with his pressure-oriented forward displays.

Honourable mentions

Aaron Britten (Shepparton United), Mark Kovacevic (Shepparton Swans), Liam Ogden (Kyabram), Joel Brett (Shepparton), Bryce Stephenson (Shepparton), Sam Willoughby (Echuca), Jake Torney (Kyabram), Brett Mahoney (Mansfield), Jack Murphy (Seymour) and Andrew Bell (Euroa)