Kyabram on-ball gun Michael Mattingly barely played last season due to injury, mustering just five quarters of football during the 2024 Goulburn Valley League campaign.
But on Good Friday, Mattingly went berserk for the Bombers.
The slick midfield operator had near-on leather poisoning during Kyabram’s 25.15 (165) to 8.7 (55) decimation of Benalla, collecting 42 touches, 19 contested possessions and 10 marks.
That’d be impressive enough on its own, but Mattingly also chalked up nine inside 50s, nine clearances, eight tackles and three goals to top it all off.
The smorgasbord of stats landed Kyabram’s returning soldier a whopping 241 ranking points and handed him the keys to the GVL private members’ club for one reason alone.
Going by the numbers, Mattingly’s Good Friday game was not only his best effort.
It was the best the GVL has seen since in-depth stats tracking was introduced a few seasons ago.
Mattingly’s 241 ranking point total narrowly eclipsed the previous record held by Rochester’s Mitch Cricelli, who notched 238 in round 10 of the 2023 season.
In a 13-point loss to Shepparton United in round 10, the Tigers’ tall tallied 37 disposals (23 contested), 44 hit outs, 13 clearances and 11 intercept possessions.
Another close contender included a 229 ranking point game from Benalla ruck beast Mark Marriott last season, with 30 touches (21 contested), 52 hit outs, nine clearances, eight inside 50s and two goals.
Other statistical anomalies in the GVL in recent years include Euroa ball magnet Will Hayes boasting 53 disposals (25 contested) in a single game last season for a 225 ranking point total.
Meanwhile, Seymour’s Riley Mason, former Mooroopna man Jackson Trengove (twice) and ex-Echuca spearhead Ruory Kirkby have all kicked 10 goals in a game in the post-COVID-19 era.
Mattingly’s start to the 2025 campaign has been electrifying, clearing 30-plus disposals in each of Kyabram’s first three games with six goals to his name.
If he can maintain that performance level throughout the season, the 2019 Morrison medallist will be among the front-runners at the league’s night of nights come September.
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