Sport

Goulburn Valley League elite stamp their authority in the numbers game

By Josh Huntly

Sep 29, 2026

Shepparton's Luke Smith. Photo by Megan Fisher

Who stuffed the stat sheet by the end of the Goulburn Valley League season?

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The GVL elite were in fine fettle throughout this year’s campaign, tallying big numbers in one of Victoria’s most competitive football leagues.

While statistics don’t always tell the whole story, they go a long way, and similar names often pop up across several key categories.

Shepparton Bears’ talisman Luke Smith didn’t come away with the premiership, but the Player of the Finals walked away as the GVL’s ranking points leader with 3132, third in total disposals (616), and fourth in tackles (127).

If that wasn’t enough, Smith, rotating through the midfield and forward line, ended the season second on the league goal-kicking with 52.

Shepparton United’s Matt Casey took that honour with 60 in his first GVL season, while perennial contender Riley Mason rounded out the podium on 47 majors in a shortened campaign.

It was one of Casey’s backline counterparts, whoever, who made almost as big an impression in his maiden campaign at Deakin Reserve.

Ex-SANFL star Brodie Newman topped the league in a number of categories, including total marks (176), intercept marks (86), and overall intercept possessions (156) to take out informal “interceptors” title.

In the ruck division, the big men were equally dominant.

Morrison Medallist Ash Holland, now a two-time winner, was the hit-out king of the GVL with 997 as well as the top contested mark getter with 48, underscoring his hard work around the ground.

There were rival rucks hot on his hammer, however, with Kyabram’s Zac Norris also putting in a big shift alongside Benalla’s Mark Marriott, who finished runner-up to Holland in the Morrison Medal.

Norris finished runner-up in the league’s ranking points with 3093 and fourth in league hitouts, but the Bombers big man’s work at ground level has continually made him Ky’s ace in the hole, the GVL’s contested possession king with 362.

Add in the fact he also led the league in clearances (207) and Norris is one of country footy’s most dynamic talls.

Seymour’s Dylan Cook also featured highly in the clearance stakes after a stellar season out at Kings Park, while the Betson brothers’ return to Mooroopna proved vital in their finals run, both top five in the league for contested possessions and clearances.

And the GVL’s league’s one-percenter king? Bears live wire Zac Metcalf, who also ranked first for spoils, followed by teammate Bryce Stephenson and Echuca’s Aiden Mills.