A new product which will completely change the game will make its debut in McPherson Media Group products later this week.
It was a brisk Saturday evening, almost four years ago now, when the whispers began to filter through from Kings Park.
Dripping in disbelief, the messages and phone calls spoke of a herculean effort on the field from a Seymour superstar.
Jason Cole had racked up 61 possessions and booted six goals on his way to steering the Lions to an upset win over Benalla in the Goulburn Valley League.
The football community immediately went crazy for the feat, and Cole was the talk of the town for weeks to come.
Ever since, I’ve been attempting to bottle that enthusiasm for statistics and incorporate it into the coverage at The News.
I’ve tried sitting very closely to club statisticians on game day, noting down my own data and requesting various results from teams post-match.
But while the efforts of myself and members of the sports desk have certainly been valiant, they have had no chance to be comprehensive.
Until now.
On Friday, McPherson Media Group will launch GVL Data — a product which will change the face of the league’s coverage in the Shepparton News, Riverine Herald, Kyabram Free Press, Seymour Telegraph, Benalla Ensign and Campaspe Valley News.
Our sports desks will have access to more than two dozen separate player statistics from every senior game of football each round, as well as video highlights of the stars of the local game in action.
Everything from kicks, marks and handballs to contested possessions and ground ball gets will be at our fingertips — and that means it will be at yours too.
From immediate reaction to in-depth analysis and breakout features — as well as highlights packages and a curated newsletter every week — GVL Data allows us to cover your local team like never before.
There has never been a better time to subscribe to your local MMG masthead and come along for the ride.
Tyler Maher
Editor and passionate statistician
Shepparton News