TORQUAY captain Ben Raidme has hinted the Tigers will play a more uptempo brand of football in 2021.
The 2019 runners-up have made some handy additions, including the return of two-time Ash medallist James Darke and the addition of St Joseph’s star Lucas Anderson, as they look to go one better this year.
“We’re not ones that would force a game plan on a group that didn’t suit them,” Raidme said.
“We think a fast game style will suit our group, particularly when you’ve got some pretty good targets like Lucas Anderson.
“For him to join Paul McMahon, Billy Henderson, Cal Currie, when he’s resting down there, and Dom, the quicker we get it into the forward line, the better we’ll be.”
Despite falling short of winning their second flag in three years in 2019, Raidme says he’s moved on from the loss to Barwon Heads.
“When we were gearing up for the practice matches last year and got through a couple, we were thinking it’d be good to get into the season to at least get one game to try rectify things, I suppose,” he said.
“It seems so long ago now; I have to remind myself it was over a year ago since we lost.
“Personally, I don’t think it’s churning away inside.
“For others, it may well be.”
The youngest member of Torquay’s 2006 premiership team, Raidme missed out on the 2017 flag due to a knee injury.
And he’s well aware at age 34, his chances of a second premiership medal are running out.
“The body feels really good; the one-year on, one-year off is probably suiting me at the moment,” he said with a smile. “I try to keep pretty active and mobile.
So, whilst I still feel good and still enjoy playing and getting around the footy club, I don’t know how much football I’ve got left in me.”
Twitter: @tom_king79
