Life without star forward Lucas Anderson begins for Torquay tomorrow when it makes the short trip to Ellimatta Reserve and a meeting with Great Ocean Road rivals Anglesea.
As K rock Football reported on Thursday, the two-time BFNL leading goalkicker and 2023 Ash Medal runner-up will miss the rest of the season with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.
Tigers coach Dom Gleeson says Anderson’s injury might change the narrative around his team.
“The feedback to us is that we’re very one-dimensional, and we have been in past years with Paul McMahon, Scotty Hughes, (and) now Lucas Anderson,” he said.
“But, with Lucas out, it makes us think, and the playing group have to think when they’re going forward.
“We are very versatile. We have a great group who can play in multiple positions.
“I’m pretty bullish about where we’re at and where we can get to.”
As well as Anderson, the Tigers will be without Charlie Ham (hamstring) and recruit Luke Mahony.
Torquay will debut Geelong Falcons listed Will Montebello after five goals in the club’s under-18s win over Geelong Amateur last week.
Experienced defender Paul Burchell will play his first senior game since Round 5, 2022, after spending the remainder of that season in the reserves and last year with Colac and District club Lorne.
Tom Hooper also is back for his first senior game since Round 2 last year.
Anglesea has been strengthened by the return of playing coach Jordan Keras, fellow midfielder Lewis Beers and veteran recruit Tom Couch.
They replace Ash Caldwell, Mitch Johnson and Tom Presnell, all omitted.
Star midfielder Tom Gribble is back after a fortnight on the sidelines among four changes as Geelong Amateur prepares for a meeting with Barwon Heads.
Gribble suffered an ankle injury in the Round 2 win over Queenscliff.
Jake Heard and Jai Sheahan also return for the Pegs, while reserves captain Hamish Scott has been promoted.
Ruck Nick Nott and forward Aaron Willits have been managed, with Harry Hampshire and Lachie Devine also out of the team that lost to Torquay last week.
The Seagulls have recalled Tom Swift and former St Joseph’s star Reid Adams.
Reigning BFNL Team of the Year centre half-back Tom Webster is among four forced changes at Newcomb as it prepares for a trip to Queenscliff.
Webster suffered a hand injury in last week’s narrow loss to Drysdale, with the Power hopeful he’ll be back after next month’s bye.
Blake Ritchie and Mason Andrews have hamstring issues, Tom Smith is unavailable, and Darcy Smith has been dropped.
Peter Gordyn is back after missing last week; Ollie Marshall will make his first appearance of the season, while reserves captain Jeanpaul Dumont, Pat McGinley, and Beau Adams have been promoted.
The Coutas look set to go in unchanged.
In the final game of the round, Ocean Grove will try to earn its first win of the season when it hosts Modewarre at Ray Menzies Oval.
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