GVL Data | The high-flying Bomber Seymour must curtail in do-or-die clash

So as the fourth-placed Bombers come to town, Seymour coach Ben Davey will be searching for ways to limit what has been a GVL juggernaut for much of the past decade.

And through the power of GVL Data, the numbers show that curtailing the influence of veteran Lachlan Smith could be the key to unlocking a pivotal victory.

When the two teams faced each other back in round six, Smith ran amok in defence, collecting 17 disposals and taking a cool 10 intercept marks to be a constant thorn in Seymour’s side.

On a day where the Lions registered just 28 inside 50s, it was as if every time they made it into their attacking half, Smith was there to cut them off, with no forward to match him in the air.

But it wasn’t just his aerial ability that hurt Seymour that day.

Every time he had the ball in his hand, Smith made the Lions pay, going at an impeccable 82 per cent by foot to set up much of Kyabram’s attacking play.

Overall it was about as complete a defensive performance you are likely to see.

And it’s not the only time he has put a game like this together.

In Kyabram’s round 13 clash with Mooroopna, Smith ensured its new two-headed monster of Chris Nield and Jackson Trengove had little influence on the game, taking 15 marks (including nine intercepts) in a best-on-ground performance.

How does this dominance stack up against the rest of the competition?

Well, unsurprisingly, Smith takes the mantle as the GVL’s premier interceptor in 2022, averaging an astounding 6.5 a game, and taking 32 more than Mansfield’s Jack Hutchins in second place.

So whether it is sending a player forward to tag him from start to finish, or changing the way they send the ball in attack, the Seymour coaching staff simply must have a plan to limit the dominance of Smith, or risk kissing their season goodbye.