Dom Gleeson looks set to extend his tenure as Torquay coach into an equal region record of 13 seasons.
Gleeson, who first took charge of the Bellarine powerhouse in late 2014, says talks with the Tigers’ president Cam Healy and football boss Marty Lanyon have commenced, with an eye to continuing into 2027.
If Gleeson, who became the first person to coach 200 Bellarine matches earlier this year, does go on, he will join North Shore legend Gordon Hynes as the only men to have led the one club for as many years.
“Work-life balance, it certainly works for me,” he said.
“I do like to do my due diligence and talk to the playing group before I sit down with the president and the football operations manager.
“(It’s) more likely than unlikely that I’ll go again.
“Work is becoming busier, but I think football fits really well around my family and work.
“And I need it. I was talking to the assistant coaches during our two weeks off, and I think we all need it.
“We’re all pretty passionate about it, and it’s a great escape from the busy life of being a dad and working full-time as well.”
Torquay returns to action this weekend after the Tigers and this week’s opponent, Ocean Grove, agreed to a strategic shift of their post-AFL Barwon bye clash to this weekend to create a double bye.
“We were always a bit reluctant at the start of the year when the fixture came out; we didn’t know whether the right thing to do was play, have a week off,” Gleeson revealed.
“We put the idea through to Ocean Grove, and they agreed.
“To have the two weeks off, it was not really focused on the footballers. It was more focused on the volunteers to ensure they could have a freshen up, and that’s been a win, I think.
“Our board even just had a couple of weeks off in a row, and I know a few got away, which was great.
“And time will tell on the football field. If Tuesday night’s anything to go by, training-wise, I think our boys are jumping out of their skin to play this weekend.”
Torquay, which has only missed the finals once under Gleeson, sits third on the ladder.
The Tigers are two games behind Queenscliff and Geelong Amateur, who they have a game in hand on.
“One more win would have been nice… it’s very tight at the top,” Gleeson said.
“But, we’re pretty content, certainly with the health of the list, and we feel our game style is really starting to click now.
“I think we’re in a good spot. Our for and against look pretty good too, so our percentage is pretty good.
“We’ve got Ocean Grove, Portarlington, Ammos, so we’ve got some games ahead of us that are going to absolutely suggest where we should be sitting.”
Travis Boak will return for his first appearance since the Round 10 win over Modewarre, while Geelong Falcon Van Rahilly has also been named.
The Grubbers, who will part company with co-coaches Dave Farrell and Nick Bourke at the end of the season, have included Falcons pair Tom Teague and Ned Badrock.
Newcomb (6th, 6-6) has lost Tom Courtney (concussion) and Bryn D’Arcy (scaphoid) ahead of a crucial clash with Queenscliff (1st, 11-2) at PlasterCom Oval.
They’ve been replaced by Peter Gordyn for his first senior appearance of 2026 and first-gamer Darby Davidson, who joined the Power from GDFNL club Geelong West.
The Coutas have made one change, recalling Tom Bakker for Archie Gladman.
Anglesea (5th, 7-5) has lodged seven changes for its meeting with Portarlington (7th, 6-7) at Ellimatta Reserve.
Playing coach Jordan Keras, premiership co-captains Jack Walters and James Carr, current skipper Dale Kerr, former Essendon player Jason Ashby, Jack Baker and Joel Hogan look set to be missing.
Alex Braaksma, Declan Everett, Camdyn Hutchinson, Max Virgona, Sebastian Kent, Jai Anderson, and Charlie Lawless come into the team.
The Demons have lost Braydon Poole to injury, replaced by Sam McDonald.
Barwon Heads (4th, 8-4) welcomes back James Syddall and Kallum Hinchcliffe for its tricky meeting with Drysdale (8th, 4-9) at Mortimer Oval.
They replace Daniel Shaw and Jack Stevens.
The Hawks welcome back Ollie Castro from Talent League duty with the Western Jets, Sam Willatt and James Robbins.
Lochie Treharne, Harry Smith and Jackson Payne go out of the team that defeated Surf Coast last week.
Mirboo North recruit Taj Wilkins will become the latest debutant for Surf Coast (11th, 1-12) when it meets Modewarre (9th, 3-10) at Community Bank Oval.
The Suns have made three changes for the clash with the Warriors, with Will McCartney and Iganacio Lopez Basavilbaso recalled from the reserves.
They replace Levi Williams (hamstring), Mitch Hovey (unavailable) and Ethan Waldron (under-18s).
Geelong Amateur (2nd, 11-2) has the bye
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