GVL Data | Contested ball kings: Who leads the way?

Ensuring you can win the hard ball and gain possession with the heat on you is paramount in finals matches.

So with the finals action just around the corner, the News sports desk decided to check out which players were leading the way in terms of contested possessions.

Thanks to GVL Data we can identify that one Benalla onballer is averaging impressive numbers when it comes to winning the contested ball.

Saints leader Will Martiniello averages 17.1 contested possessions per game.

For comparison, Mooroopna export Clayton Oliver averages 17.5 for Melbourne in 2022.

Obviously two different standards of footy, but remarkable nonetheless.

Echuca tough nut Jack McHale is close behind with an average of 15.9 per game.

Rochester's Shaun Atley (13.9), Benalla's Chris Welsh (13.6) and Atley's teammate Chris Jansen (13.2) round out the top five.

What about the highest individual tally of contested possessions this campaign?

Interestingly, there are three midfielders who have a share of the highest contested possessions in a match.

Shepparton's Jayden Dhosi, Swans' BJ Squire and Atley have all chalked up 23 contested possessions once this season.

McHale almost matched the efforts of that trio with 22 in the round eight win over Rochester.

The Murray Bomber consistently wins the ball under heavy pressure and has registered 21, 20 and 20 in three other matches.

Next cab on the rank is Tatura star Tom Sullivan, who recorded 21 contested possessions in rounds 10 and 15 respectively.

Echuca talent Cooper Barber also reached 21, in the round six triumph over Shepparton.