Any doubts about Torquay being able to claim a hat-trick of Bellarine flags have been dispelled in an impressive two hours of football at Portarlington Recreation Reserve.
The Tigers will appear in the second semi-final for a fourth consecutive year after handing Queenscliff a 105-point hiding to book a meeting with Geelong Amateur for a spot in this year’s decider.
Just a fortnight after falling to the Coutas by eight points, Torquay flexed its substantial muscle in posting a 24.11 (155) to 7.8 (50).
Coach Dom Gleeson says the two losses to Queenscliff during the home-and-away season had his team well prepared.
“Every loss, you look a bit harder,” he said.
“If we’d won those two last games we played against them, would we have delved into ourselves enough, and would we have developed as a group?
“I’d argue no. It certainly gave us some drive into today’s game.
But what was most positive was that both our seniors and reserves are through again on to next week.
So, we’re pumped as a club.”
Tynan Smith’s season-high seven goals will jump off the page for those just looking at the box score of the match.
However, Gleeson says it was the work up the field that benefited Smith.
“It was just a team effort,” Gleeson said.
“I spoke to Heath (Jamieson, Queenscliff coach) after the game, and he was very glowing with his comments on our team.
“Tynan was very good, but he was the full stop to a lot of the hard work of what was happening up the ground.
“Our midfielders had a completely different outlook. Our backline looked a bit different.
“Going into the game with seven changes, we were a completely different side from playing them two weeks ago.”
Complementing Smith’s performance were three goals from Lucas Anderson and two apiece for Tom Diamond, Banjo Dyer, Angus Hanley and Weylin Doyle.
While he was loath to individualise, Gleeson labelled Ollie Tate “fantastic”, while Seamus Doyle’s performance was “one to remember”.
Torquay got through the afternoon with no injuries, but Gleeson will likely have to make room for the returning Tom Hooper next week.
However, the season is over for Clay Page.
After fighting back from a serious lower leg injury suffered in Round 1, Page sustained a broken hand at training on Tuesday night.
“I’ve been trying to keep a distance from him a bit just to let him deal with it,” Gleeson said.
“Today, he came up for a big hug, but it doesn’t look like it’s going to be great for him.
“I think he’s certainly finished for the year.”
Queenscliff, which held back Izaac Grant in his return from a ruptured spleen, listed just three players among its best: Che Durran, Tyler Monahan, and vice-captain Harry Gower.
Jordy Monahan and Jonty Rush each kicked two goals for the Coutas, who will face the winner of today’s elimination final in next Sunday’s first semi-final.
X: @krockfootball
QUALIFYING FINAL
TORQUAY 4.3, 10.9, 15.11, 24.11 (155)
QUEENSCLIFF 1.2, 2.3, 4.5, 7.8 (50)
GOALS: Torquay: T. Smith 7, L. Anderson 3, W. Doyle 2, A. Hanley 2, B. Dyer 2, T. Diamond 2, M. Boag, P. Hughes, C. Patton, J. Darke, P. Burchell, C. Heard
GOALS: Queenscliff: J. Monahan 2, J. Rush 2, J. McHenry, J. Cincotta, C. Durran
BEST: Torquay: O. Tate, M. Boag, C. Heard, S. Doyle, N. Mifsud, C. Ham
BEST: Queenscliff: C. Durran, T. Monahan, H. Gower
TODAY
Sunday, August 24
Elimination Final
- Drysdale vs. Anglesea @ Portarlington Recreation Reserve, 2:00pm
NEXT WEEK – FINALS WEEK TWO
FINALS WEEK TWO
Saturday, August 30
Second Semi-Final
- Geelong Amateur vs. Torquay @ Portarlington Recreation Reserve, 2:00pm
First Semi-Final
Sunday, August 24
- Queenscliff vs. Drysdale or Anglesea @ Portarlington Recreation Reserve, 2:00pm
