Torquay notches convincing win by 85-points over Drysdale in Hawks’ third-straight loss

For the second time this year, grand finalist Drysdale was thumped by Torquay. And the result was alarming for more than one reason.

Torquay's Jesse Dawson celebrates one of five goals against Drysdale. Picture: Alan Barber

A depleted Drysdale has dropped out of the top five after Torquay smashed the out-of-form Hawks by 85 points, consigning them to their third loss in a row.

The grand final rematch from last year was a fizzer as the Hawks managed just one goal for the match as inaccuracy and poor forward half connection plagued them in their 1.9 (15) to 15.10 (100) defeat.

Drysdale has now lost to Torquay by a cumulative margin of 138-points since its grand final loss last year.

The Hawks remained in the game at halftime trailing by 25-points, but the floodgates opened after that, conceding second-half goals and scoring just five behinds themselves.

Torquay forwards Jesse Dawson (five goals), Will Tamassy (four) and Cooper Heard (three) combined for 12 of the Tigers’ 15 majors.

It continued a blistering run for Tamassy who has kicked 16 goals in his last four matches, while Dawson has nine majors in the last fortnight.

Will Tamassy kicked another four. Picture: Alan Barber

Drysdale coach Ben Carmichael said missed opportunities hurt them, having also kicked 11.17 in their nine-point loss to Barwon Heads last week.

The Hawks were without stars Ben Fennell (hamstring awareness), Cam Delaney (ankle), Tom Randone (ankle) and Mitch O’Dowd (overseas) which meant they fielded 15 players aged 22 and under.

Carmichael felt his side was “totally outplayed” but said youngsters have been forced to play big roles in the absence of key players, like Luke Preece, Chris Tainton, Jye Hawkins and Joel Watson.

“I thought the first half was really good, we gave ourselves plenty of looks, and we just couldn’t keep that scoreboard pressure up just to keep ourselves close enough to keep that energy high,” Carmichael said

“You just give Torquay a few chances and they take it, they are a great side. They are certainly the best side we have come up against this year, so confident in their method at the moment and in that second half it was probably similar where we just didn’t take chances to keep ourselves within the game and they just totally outplayed us today.

“We are missing a lot of key cogs to our list but we are still giving ourselves opportunities within games to play well. Like I said we are just not connecting, we are kicking a lot of behinds and when you have opportunities to stay in games, to win games, and you’re not kicking goals, it is a bit deflating at times.

“Sides just go down and kick goals straight away, it’s hard for us, but we are going to hang in there and hopefully in the next couple of weeks it will get back to that form that we know we can play.

“We are getting games into kids and we’re just going to have to be patient with the consistency at times.”

Carmichael is unsure whether Torquay is better than last year, but what is clear is the Tigers’ dominance over the BFNL.

Drysdale coach Ben Carmichael. Picture: Alan Barber

“It is hard to tell because what we are putting up is probably not to the level of last year, so in that respect it is hard to tell,” Carmichael said.

“But watching them today I think they are clear above the comp, with respect to everyone else, but what I’ve seen (on Saturday) they are really in tune and in really great form.”

After losses against Modewarre, Barwon Heads and Torquay it doesn’t get any easier for the Hawks with a tough trip down to Anglesea, who is coming off a convincing 66-point win over Barwon Heads.

The Hawks are set to regain Fennell for the important clash and Delaney remains a 50/50 chance to return after five weeks on the sidelines.

“The boys are competitive and us as coaches are as well, so very disappointing to lose like that. But the season can get away from you pretty quickly if you get down on yourself,” Carmichael said.

“We’ve just got to continue to work, we’ve been working hard at training, we’ve just got to make it click on game day a bit better.

“But you’ve got to stay positive because we’ve got a big game this week again Anglesea who are in great form as well so we’ve just got to get to work and go down there and give it our best.”

Originally published as Torquay notches convincing win by 85-points over Drysdale in Hawks’ third-straight loss