Torquay coach Dom Gleeson believes the consistency of personnel in the club’s midfield has been key to its climb into second spot on the Bellarine ladder.
The Tigers held off a final-quarter surge from an injury-hit Barwon Heads to claim a 42-point victory at Howard Harmer Oval, 18.13 (121) to 12.7 (79).
The victory was Torquay’s third consecutive, and followed back-to-back losses to Drysdale and Queenscliff that had the two-time reigning premier sitting outside the top five at the end of May.
“It certainly helps with an injury list that’s slowly starting to get healthy,” Gleeson told K rock Football.
“We look at our midfield group, and we’ve got Mackenzie Burns as our starting ruck this year after losing Ed McCoy.
“But then we’ve got Matty Boag, who we’re able to leave in the middle: James Darke’s fully fit, and Nathan Mifsud.
“Then we’ve had Patty Hughes for the last four weeks, so it certainly helps having that consistency in the middle.
“What that does then is send other midfielders out to other positions.
“Sheldon Ham’s has been incredible on the wing, and it’s allowed Charlie Ham to go back, so it takes pressure off everywhere else.”
Torquay by five points at quarter time, 18 at the main break, and had seemingly put the game to bed after a seven-goal-to-two term extended the margin to 47 points.
However, the Seagulls dominated the first 20 minutes of the final term, kicking five goals – including three in a seven-minute burst from Sam Witherden to get to within 17 points.
The Tigers found a steadying goal from Tom Diamond, and then added a further three goals to add some handy percentage.
Boag, Hughes, along with Leopold recruit Ollie Tate and captain Ben McNamara were named Torquay’s best, but Gleeson admits it was an old-fashioned ‘team effort’.
“When you pick your best players as coach, you’ve got to put it in the paper, and I reckon I’ll be calling four or five blokes to say, sorry, I couldn’t squeeze you in, but you’re one of our best,” he said.
The only downside for Torquay was a rolled ankle suffered by Burns, who was the Tigers took a cautious approach with as he prepares to battle Portarlington star Scott Greenhough next week.
Gleeson confirmed star forward Lucas Anderson will make his return from a knee reconstruction for the meeting with the Demons.
“He’s been very patient with his recovery,” Gleeson said. “He’ll probably play limited game time if we can help it.
“He’s been training now for a couple of weeks. He did full match sim the last couple of weeks, and it’s just awesome to have him back out there.
“It’s been a long road for him, and I know he’s excited.
“He’s been our runner the last couple of weeks, and it’s even been good having him out there that way.
“I’m looking forward to just seeing him run out through the gates again.”
However, Gleeson confirmed premiership player Luke Mahony won’t play again this year after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in the reserves clash with Drysdale last month.
Diamond finished with four goals for Torquay, with young guns Banjo Dyer and Will Montebello contributing three apiece.
Witherden’s three goals for Barwon Heads were matched by Werribee-listed Jack Henderson, with Tom Swift and the high-numbered Kyle Maher among the best.
The Seagulls’ hopes of returning to finals action could hinge on their performance over the fortnight leading up to the July bye, with away games against ladder leader Geelong Amateur and the improving Portarlington.
Drysdale has improved its chances of a top-three finish following a 19-point win over Queenscliff in the annual Hands Up Cup clash at Drysdale Recreation Reserve.
The Hawks joined the Coutas on seven wins after halting the visitors’ winning streak at six, 11.13 (79) to 8.12 (60).
Drysdale led by 26 points at half-time, thanks to a 5.2 to 1.2 second quarter.
However, the Coutas were back within 18 points at three-quarter time before goals to Hawks duo Jake Hargreaves and Lachie Nelis steadied the home team’s ship.
Hagreaves kicked three goals, with Nelis and Flynn Chirgwin contributing two apiece.
Izaac Grant and Tyler Monahan finished with two goals each for Queenscliff.
With premiership heroes from 1995 and 2000 watching on, Ocean Grove has produced the upset of the season after jumping Anglesea at Ray Menzies Oval and running out 41-point winners.
Leading by 14 points at three-quarter time, there were fears last year’s grand finalists would overrun the Grubbers.
However, Jackson Stephenson kicked the all-important first goal to extend the margin to 20 points, with Ocean Grove able to keep the Seas at bay to claim a 17.8 (110) to 10.9 (69) victory.
It was the first time the Grubbers kicked a triple-figure score and their biggest win since beating Portarlington by 87 points in Round 12, 2023.
Veteran Jye Walker kicked four goals as he did against Anglesea in Round 3, while Tyson Ruck contributed three.
Ayden Gras kicked four goals to bring up 50 for the season for the Roos.
Portarlington stormed home to beat Modewarre for the first time since 2009 and claim five wins in a season on just the fourth occasion since last playing finals in 1994.
Trailing by 32 points early in the final term at Ron Evans Oval, the Demons’ flickering finals flame was about to be extinguished by the Warriors.
However, the home team kicked seven of the following eight goals to claim a thrilling 14.8 (92) to 12.15 (87) victory, winning three in a row for the first time, straddling the 2007-08 seasons with victories.
Former captain Steve Walton entered the contest without a goal for the season, but kicked three for the match, including two in the final term.
Teia Miles also managed three goals to take his season tally to 22, while Scott Greenhough is likely to have added more Ash Medal votes in a dominant ruck performance.
Connor Joseph returned after a week in the reserves to kick four goals for Modewarre, which will miss finals action unless it goes through the remainder of the season unbeaten.
Eight goals from Mitch Day helped guide Geelong Amateur to a 65-point win over Newcomb at Grinter Reserve.
The 21.7 (133) to 10.8 (68) result has Ammos in the box seat to start their finals campaign from a second semi-final, with Queenscliff’s loss to Drysdale opening up a three-game gap on the chasing pack with seven rounds to play.
Jack Duke kicked five goals for the Power.
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