GFNL stats: All the top performers from round one

In his first game since parting ways with Geelong VFL, a former AFL player starred for St Mary’s. Plus, plenty of gun midfielders and signings lit up the stat sheet.

Brayden Ham had a big game for St Mary’s. Picture: Michael Klein

Former AFL player Brayden Ham made an impressive start to life as a senior footballer for St Mary’s.

The 45-game Essendon player, who decided to part ways with Geelong VFL after playing the first two games of this season, racked up a game-high 31 disposals, 11 contested possessions, seven inside 50s and 1.2 in the Saints’ win over Newtown & Chillwell.

It was his first senior game for the club since he was a junior.

Another former Cats VFL player also starred, with Harry Benson finishing with 29 disposals, 16 contested possessions and 10 tackles.

Newtown & Chillwell’s Braden Hocking was the top ranked player of the round according to Premier Data with 28 disposals, 14 intercepts, 11 rebound 50s, eight intercept marks and 168 ranking points.

Six of the top 20 totals from the round came in North Shore’s win over Lara, with Cats midfielder Connor Lineham-Cunningham and Werribee VFL ruck Kobe Annand finishing on the podium — Annand tying with St Joseph’s Jack Buckley — behind Hocking.

Lineham-Cunningham racked up 31 disposals, 19 contested possessions, 12 inside 50s, nine clearances and 163 points, while Annand gave his side first use with a whopping 15 hitouts to advantage to go with 21 disposals, 14 contested possessions, 10 marks and a goal.

Meanwhile, North Shore recruit Mahli King (28 disposals, 10 marks and 134 points) and his teammate Brad Gerrard (27 disposals at 96 per cent efficiency, 11 marks and 134 points) were also prominent.

Leopold captain Marcus Thompson was the top ranked player on the ground in his side’s win over Geelong West, tallying 24 disposals, 12 tackles, 10 inside 50s and 141 points — and it could have been an even bigger game had he kicked straight, managing four behinds.

Logan Wagener backed up his best-on-ground display in the grand final with 32 disposals at an elite 91 per cent efficiency and 12 contested possessions, while the returning Jake Pitt (3.3, 20 disposals and 11 marks) and Oliver Tate (28 disposals, 12 marks) also shone.

For the Giants it was Tanner Lovell who led the way with a game-high 33 disposals.

Marcus Thompson had a big first game for Leopold. Picture: Alan Barber

South Barwon star Jack Driver put in a stellar performance for the Swans with a whopping 16 marks — eight of those intercepts — to go with 28 disposals, a goal and 156 points.

Paddy Kelly (28 disposals, 14 contested possessions) made a strong debut for South Barwon as reigning Mathieson medallist Matt Caldow dominated up forward with 18 disposals, 12 marks, five contested marks, four goal assists and three majors.

Bell Park signing Ollie Bridgewater had a significant impact in his first game for the Dragons, registering 41 hit-outs, 15 disposals, 11 contested possessions and six tackles to be the top-ranked player on the ground with 160 points.

His opponent Zac Zdybel was also prominent with 19 disposals, 13 contested possessions and 30 hit-outs of his own, while Dragons star Lachie Patten led all comers with 31 disposals, nine clearances and seven tackles.

Jack Buckley had the ball on a string in St Joseph’s big win over St Albans with 34 disposals, 14 contested possessions and 162 points, while James Gow (28 disposals 17 contested possessions and eight clearances) showed his class in his first game for the Joeys since 2022.

Max McLachlan and Hunter Lewis both kicked four goals, with McLachlan also tallying 24 disposals and 10 marks in a superb showing.

St Albans ball-magnet Fletcher Keck led the disposal count with 36 touches and nine marks.

Originally published as GFNL stats: All the top performers from round one