Seymour won the midfield battle against Echuca at the weekend, but it was the Murray Bombers who won the war.
The Lions, led expertly by the likes of Jack Murphy, Nathan Beattie, Tom Maloney and Ben Rigoni, won the clearances 46-39, the centre clearances 12-8 and throw-in clearances 16-13, as well as levelling the ball-up clearances 18-apiece, but were not able to claim the points in the round 13 Goulburn Valley League clash.
Seymour’s midfield dominance netted it 5.0 (30) from stoppages — a whopping 53 per cent of its overall score of 56 — which is its best performance in the statistic since a round 10 win over Shepparton United in terms of raw output and highest as a percentage of total score all season.
In fact, the league average is just 33 per cent in 2024.
Murphy racked up 34 disposals at the weekend, while Beattie’s 31 touches also came with 15 contested possessions, 14 tackles and nine clearances.
Rigoni snared 30 disposals, 14 contested possessions, 10 tackles and five clearances, while Maloney’s nine clearances came from 23 disposals.
For Echuca, Jack McHale (30 disposals and 10 clearances) led the way in the middle.
The Lions host Tatura at Kings Park in round 14.
ECHUCA v SEYMOUR Team statistics, round 13
Disposals: 348 to 353
Contested possessions: 154 to 149
Clearances: 39 to 46
Centre clearances: 8 to 12
INDIVIDUAL STANDOUTS For Seymour, v Echuca, round 13
JACK MURPHY
Disposals: 34
Marks: 15
Rebound 50s: 5
NATHAN BEATTIE
Disposals: 31
Contested possessions: 15
Tackles: 14
Clearances: 9
TOM MALONEY
Disposals: 23
Tackles: 6
Clearances: 9
BEN RIGONI
Disposals: 30
Contested possessions: 14
Tackles: 10