The Lions finished the 2023 Goulburn Valley League campaign in second at the home and away season’s conclusion, but back-to-back losses in finals signalled the end of a much-anticipated September run.
This year, however, they’re dead last.
Yes, only two games have passed and it’s far too early to finger the panic button, but there’s no denying Seymour has not bolted out of the blocks, instead stumbling over them to begin 2024.
How has this happened?
Where has it all gone wrong?
For starters, many expected Jack O’Sullivan’s departure would leave a hole in the Lions’ midfield, but this has proven to be crater-sized.
The two-time Morrison medallist led the league last season for hard ball gets (93) and topped Seymour’s charts in the following per-game averages: disposals (26.7), contested possessions (11.6), inside 50s (5.1) and clearances (6.5).
Dominating the categories that arguably matter the most in a midfielder, O’Sullivan was a force to be reckoned with — but you can’t pin Seymour’s early misfiring on one omission.
Tom Maloney has been a worthy replacement and has hit the ground running, ranked elite in average clearances (10.5), ground ball gets (10), contested possessions (17.5) and tackles (six).
The sample size is small as the Lions have only featured twice this season — both away — but by and large, Ben Davey’s charges have performed similarly stats-wise to the rest of the competition.
Seymour averages for 2024
Disposals: 335.5
Contested possessions: 133.5
Clearances: 34.5
Overall pressure: 146
Goals: 9.5
However, several denominators stick out like a sore thumb when trawling through the fine print back at the lab.
The Lions are -24.5 in hit-outs compared to their opponents, trail in average contested possessions -16 and also hold the league’s second lowest pressure act average of 53.5, in stark comparison to Rochester’s 90.7.
That being said, Davey’s men move the football as frequently as some of the best sides.
Seymour’s mean disposal count of 335.5 is only bettered by Euroa and Mooroopna, but a kicking percentage of 61 (10th in the GVL) eludes to some shaky work off the boot.
Something has to be said about the Lions’ clearance efficiency of 76 per cent, which tops the next in line by a margin of five.
That team is Echuca, which is seldom ousted in most of the stat columns.
Undoubtedly, Seymour is performing well in some aspects of the game and others not so much, but it’s hard to imagine it rooted to the foot of the table for much longer.
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