GVL Data Fantasy | Sports desk dreaming of bulk points

If you give a sports journalist a statistic, they will write for a day.

But if you teach them GVL Data, they’ll write about it for life.

Botched metaphors aside, the various sports-minded journalists of McPherson Media Group have been busy delving deep into the vast array of GVL Data statistics on offer this Goulburn Valley League season.

The latest content they have come up with is GVL Data Fantasy.

Each journalist — or editor — will represent a masthead in the group over the final fortnight of the regular season, playing for honour, glory and the first round of post-season soft drinks at the Moama Bowling Club.

The News will be represented by sports editor Aydin Payne, sports journalist Daniel Webb, senior digital reporter Max Stainkamph and editor Tyler Maher, but also part of the weekly stable will be sports journalist James Kleeman — representing the Benalla Ensign — and sports journalist Zac Standish, battling on behalf of the Seymour Telegraph.

The representatives have compiled teams of 10 — following a GVL 9s format with one emergency — to bring the metaphorical trophy home to rest in The News offices.

Players compile Data Points out on the GVL field through various statistics, including kicks, marks, tackles, free kicks, hit-outs and scoring shots, and the overall highest Fantasy squad over the two rounds will be declared the winner and be showered with praise and plaudits.

To check out the combatants for the The Riverine Heraldhead to the GVL Data tab on your preferred MMG masthead website.

Here’s a look at The News representatives’ teams.

Hartley’s Heroes – Zac Standish

Jack Murphy (Seymour)

Chris Jansen (Rochester)

Billy Cooper (Tatura)

BJ Squire (Shepparton Swans)

Ruory Kirkby (Echuca)

Ben Rigoni (Seymour)

Chris Welsh (Benalla)

Shaun Atley (Rochester)

Michael Hartley (Seymour)

EMG: Patrick Marks (Mansfield)

Welsh’s Wizards – James Kleeman

Chris Welsh (Benalla)

Chris Jansen (Rochester)

Chris Nield (Mooroopna)

Ruory Kirkby (Echuca)

Shaun Atley (Rochester)

BJ Squire (Shepparton Swans)

Jack Murphy (Seymour)

Liam Tenace (Echuca)

Daniel Willis (Echuca)

EMG: James Martiniello (Benalla)

Red Ted Redemption – Daniel Webb

BJ Squire (Shepparton Swans)

Lachlan Smith (Kyabram)

Jack Murphy (Seymour)

Adam Pigatto (Shepparton United)

Zac Bunch (Shepparton Swans)

Liam Betson (Mooroopna)

Andrew Smith (Euroa)

Ruory Kirkby (Echuca)

Joe Atley (Rochester)

EMG: Samuel Harris (Benalla)

Worth the Waite – Max Stainkamph

Tom Downie (Benalla)

Billy Cooper (Tatura)

BJ Squire (Shepparton Swans)

Jack Murphy (Seymour)

Chris Jansen (Rochester)

Chris Welsh (Benalla)

Jarrad Waite (Benalla)

Hugh Hamilton (Rochester)

Anthony Andronaco (Shepparton)

EMG: Nathan Beattie (Seymour)

Goal’d Miners – Tyler Maher

Chris Nield (Mooroopna)

Ruory Kirkby (Echuca)

Kyle Mueller (Kyabram)

Michael Hartley (Seymour)

Cam Arnold (Mansfield)

Jarrad Waite (Benalla)

Jackson Trengove (Mooroopna)

Steven Stroobants (Rochester)

Mitch Cricelli (Rochester)

EMG: Anthony Andronaco (Shepparton)

As you can see, some seem to have spent more time on coming up with a clever team name than procuring the 10 best exponents of Data Points in the league, but there’s still plenty of promise.

The Goal’d Miners for Maher have done exactly that — gone digging for goals — while the crew at Obi Wan Giobbi looks to have the most balanced outfit ahead of round 17 action this weekend, holding Payne in good stead.

It is good to see some Telegraph duck Ensign team name representation from Standish and Kleeman, while — as the last team list submitted — Stankamph’s side really was Worth the Waite.

There looks to also be plenty of opportunity for Red Ted Redemption to spin a Webb of points and take out the crown.