Torquay coach Dom Gleeson admits the publicity surrounding Portarlington’s return to local football relevance provided a “bit of ammunition” heading into Saturday’s 52-point win at Portarlington Recreation Reserve.
The Demons entered the clash riding an in-season four-match winning streak for the first time since 1994, leading to Melbourne media personality Tony Jones fronting a video posted to social media featuring some television colleagues throwing their support behind the perennial Bellarine battlers.
“We had a really good week of preparation,” Gleeson told K rock Football post-match.
“Going to the momentum and all the things on social media with ‘Chompers’ (Jones), and it built up a bit of ammunition for us throughout the course of the week.
“But it’s always great to come down here and win games.”
Torquay co-captain Ben McNamara won the toss and chose to kick with the aid of the breeze in the first quarter, and the Tigers made the most of their advantage.
Tynan Smith kicked and Sheldon Ham each kicked two goals as the visitors poured on six goals, while limiting the Demons to one major.
Portarlington was unable to make the most of the wind in the second quarter, kicking just two goals, with three majors from former Melbourne-listed big man Lucas Cook helping Torquay to a 44-point lead at halftime.
The Demons kicked the first two goals of the third quarter through co-captain Mitch Turnbull and Nick Lane to reduce the deficit to 32 points.
However, it was as close as Portarlington would get, with consecutive goals late in the quarter from late inclusion Jonty Wylie ensuring Torquay’s 11th win of the season.
Cook finished with six goals and Wylie, who was making just his third senior appearance and first of 2026, as the replacement for gun recruit Hugh Trigg (back), contributed four.
With Trigg, Ned Turner (illness) and Travis Boak (unavailable) expected to return for next week’s blockbuster clash with Geelong Amateur, Gleeson admits Wylie might find himself turning out at midday.
“I had to keep counting his goals throughout the course of the day, but do you want anything more as a coach?” Gleeson mused.
“He had a really interrupted off-season and to see him come in in the latter half of the year and do what he did, just really pumped, for our program, in a sense, and for him and his family.”
Wylie wasn’t the only young Tiger to showcase his talents, with Joe Darby, in just his eighth senior match, thrust into the ruck after Spencer Meagher dislocated his shoulder in the first quarter and headed to hospital.
Darby, with support from the undersized Weylin Doyle, battled experienced Demon Scott Greenough.
“He was very good,” Gleeson said.
“And then Weylin Doyle had to serve his penance in there like he always does as well.
“It gives an opportunity to a reserve ruckman, which we’re lucky we’ve got a little bit of depth in that area as well.”
Star midfielder Matt Boag was unstoppable in the midfield but ended the contest with a knock to the jaw, while McNamara was impassable in defence.
Despite controlling periods of the match, further highlighting Portarlington’s improvement, coach Sam Scott was disappointed with the performance.
“The way they move the footy just by hand, and our tackling pressure was down today, and we just let them take on the first tackle,” Scott said.
“And then they were able to get two, three, four, five, six, seven chains of handballs, and then by the time they had a look inside 50, it was a really easy kick.
“We worked really hard to get the footy up our end, and we’d probably have a good look, and then 1v1s ahead of the footy – even at times we had two free – and we would just pick out the defender.
“We’re building our style of footy, and we’re trying to play a brand, but we’ve got to execute.
“We’ve executed about 85 per cent of the time the last four weeks, and today it was probably down to about 60.
“And you just get punished when you turn it over as much as we did today.”
Turnbull finished with four goals for Portarlington to take his season tally to 32, while youngster Hayden Eddy again showed his undoubted talent with two majors.
The Demons will have their second bye next week before facing Drysdale at Mortimer Oval in Round 18.
Queenscliff (1st, 13-2) put itself in the box seat to claim the minor premiership for the first time since 2013 after overcoming fellow flag fancies Geelong Amateur (3rd, 11-3) by 29 points at KFC Oval.
With the game in the balance at three-quarter time, with the Coutas leading by three points, Ammos missed an early opportunity through league-leading goalkicker Sam Lloyd to take back the advantage.
However, the visitors kicked the only four goals of the final term to secure an important victory that has it eight points clear of the Pegs and Torquay.
Jayden McHenry, Jordy Monahan, Kai Keenan and Izaac Grant kicked two goals apiece for Queenscliff, with the fine seasons of captain Caleb Whitley and Nick Rippon continuing.
Lloyd was held to two goals, his lowest return since Round 4.
Mitch Day and Brydon Barnett were named Ammos’ best.
Jake Whybrow played the hero, with three last quarter goals helping Barwon Heads (4th, 9-5) to a thrilling five-point win over fellow finals hopefuls Anglesea (5th, 7-7) at Ellimatta Reserve.
Trailing the home team by 18 points at three-quarter time, the Seagulls kicked 5.4 to 1.5 in the final term to claim a 16.10 (106) to 14.17 (101) result.
Whybrow finished with four majors for the afternoon, but it was Mitch Jensen who took the honours among the Barwon Heads forwards, kicking five goals.
Harry Hyland and Lachie Blacket were also important for the fourth-placed Seagulls, who restored a two-game break on Anglesea, Newcomb and Portarlington with a month of the home-and-away season remaining.
Will Batson kicked three goals for the Seas and was among their best along with former Seagull Noah McGregor-Dawson and Joel Hogan, who both contributed two majors.
Five goals from co-captain Tom Webster helped Newcomb (6th, 7-7) to a 68-point win over Modewarre (9th, 4-11) at Mt Moriac Reserve.
The Power laid the foundation for the 16.15 (111) to 8.5 (53) victory with an eight-goal opening quarter burst.
Werribee VFL-listed Webster now has 21 goals since being moved forward in Round 9.
Jack Duke and Blake Ritchie kicked three goals apiece for the Power, who made it seven wins for the first time since winning their last premiership in 2007.
Cal Farrell and Tom Worpel both managed two majors for Modewarre.
Drysdale (8th, 6-9) posted its highest score of the season in beating Ocean Grove (10th, 3-12) by 61 points at Mortimer Oval, 21.12 (138) to 12.5 (77).
Western Jets young gun Ollie Castro starred with six goals and was well supported by captain Mitch McGuire, who finished with five majors.
Castro, who turned 17 last month, now has 17 goals from five games for the Hawks, who are a win and percentage outside the top five with winnable matchups against Newcomb, Portarlington and Anglesea to round out the home-and-away season.
James Paterson and the returning Lorne Waldron each kicked three goals for the Grubbers.
Surf Coast (11th, 1-13) had the bye.
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