Even the men in green appear to have recognised the extraordinary presence he has had in just about all of his 13 games with the Tigers this season.
Atley has earned 39 free kicks this season (the most in the league) and has had 32 paid against him (equal third).
It is a big turnaround in fortunes for Atley. Last year, in his four games with the Tigers while free from his Essendon VFL commitments, he earned just seven free kicks and gave 18 away.
Atley is one of only two players to feature in both the top 10 lists of free kicks for and against, the other being Tatura star Ethan Penrith (involved in 70 decisions by the umpires, 33 of those in his favour).
Atley has received six more free kicks than Benalla ruckman Josh Marchbank, and Shepparton coach Xavier Stevenson is equal third (on 32) with another hard-nut onballer, Mansfield’s Harry Mahoney.
Rochester’s only other top-10 player, in regard to free kicks for, is ruckman Mitch Cricelli (equal ninth with 28).
Shepparton United midfielder Sheldon Bogdan has backed up his status as the most penalised player in the competition.
Last year he gave away 55 free kicks in 16 games (receiving 24 in return) and was seven ahead of Echuca’s Jack McHale.
This year Bogdan has given away 41 free kicks, four more than Tatura star Penrith.
Shepparton Swans livewire Zac Banch was the player to receive the most free kicks last year, by some margin. In nine games this season Banch has earned 20 free kicks and had 10 paid against him.
He was on the end of 63 favourable decisions last season (in just 17 games), 16 ahead of Euroa ruckman Andrew Smith, with Mansfield forward Ben Christopher third.
Last year’s number one big man at the Tigers, Daniel Russell, was the most prolific free kick recipient (37 for, 31 against) in 2022.
This year the sound of whistles has been ringing in the ears of Tigers players, as Rochester games, on average, require umpires to make the third most decisions of any team involved in the 2023 competition.
The Tigers’ 13 games have averaged 48.1 free kicks (24 in their favour and 24.1 against), third behind Mansfield (50.8) and Shepparton Swans (49.2).
Rochester’s almost 50-50 split is the closest of any team in the competition, the Eagles giving away three more free kicks than they receive and the Swans having almost five more paid in their favour than they give away.
The Tigers are third for decisions in their favour, behind Shepparton Swans (27) and Shepparton Bears (25.9). Interestingly, five of the top six GVL teams — in regard to free kicks — will not be involved in finals this season.
Only sixth-ranked Mansfield, which earns 23.9 free kicks on a weekly basis, is among the top half-dozen teams to earn favourable decisions from the umpires this season.
The Swans, Bears and Tigers are on the dais in regard to whistles in their favour, while bottom team Benalla and Tatura (ninth) are ranked fifth and sixth — behind the fourth-ranked Eagles.
At the opposite end of the spectrum in regard to free kicks for are two of the top three teams: Echuca and Kyabram. Echuca earns just 20.8 free kicks, on average, every week and the Bombers are bottom, with an average of 18.6.
There is an amazing nine-free-kick gap between the umpires’ ‘favourites’, Shepparton Swans, and Kyabram.
Mansfield’s 50-plus (on average) weekly whistle blows see it cop 26.9 free kicks against, almost three more than second-ranked Rochester (24.1).
Shepparton United (24), Seymour (23.2) and Euroa are the other top teams in that statistical category.
The teams with the fewest decisions made against them this season have been Benalla and Shepparton Bears.
The Bears have the biggest positive free kick differential, receiving four more free kicks than they give away on a weekly basis (conceding only 21.8).
Benalla, which receives 23.5 free kicks (fifth), gives away the fewest (19.6).
