Torquay a step closer to avenging last year’s grand final loss after beating Barwon Heads by 57 points at Portarlington

Barwon Heads lost a player in the warm up and their day didn’t get much better as the Torquay’s premier forward slotted six in a dominant, qualifying final display at Portarlington.

It all pretty much went to script.

Torquay got the better of Barwon Heads by a comfortable margin and Lucas Anderson kicked a bag.

In an echo of last season’s qualifying final, the Tigers progressed to the BFL grand final at the expense of the Seagulls at Portarlington, this time winning 15.9 (99) to 5.12 (42) after last year’s equally emphatic 75-point win.

The 17-1 Torquay had beaten the Seagulls twice this year, by 52 and 41 points respectively, with Anderson producing 14 majors in total across both fixtures.

And on Saturday, the Tigers breached the 95-point mark for the 16th time this year as the former Joeys forward slotted six.

Lucas Anderson kicked six goals for Torquay. Picture: Mark Wilson

He would have four by half time, including a sublime, boundary line shot from outside the 50m arc not long after the Seagulls had answered Torquay’s run of six consecutive goals.

But it would be Tom Diamond’s second brilliant snap on the left which winged the Seagulls permanently as Weylin Doyle kept Brock Close (two goals) under wraps and Oliver Wiltshire was far from damaging.

Ben McNamara, who was close to best on ground until a third term corky, kept and Barwon Mitchell Phelps quiet. Picture: Mark Wilson

The Tigers simply had winners on every line with a best players list bulging with contenders.

Earlier, Barwon Heads got off to a poor start before the ball was even bounced, with Charlie Brauer a late withdrawal after re-injuring a troublesome knee during the warm-up.

The opening minutes were marked by some ferocious tackling before the Seagulls scored the opening two goals.

Barwon Heads ruckman Luke Davis was particularly influential, bulldozing the ball clear by foot after centre bounces while his direct opponent Edward McCoy pulled down a mark of the season contender.

Edward McCoy took a monster grab in the first term. Picture: Mark Wilson

Fortunately, the Tigers had captain and defender Ben McNamara – who kept Mitchell Phelps quiet before going off with a corky in the third term – clutching a string of intercept marks across half back.

Close would open the Gulls’ account with a strong pack mark and massive roost from outside 50, before Torquay began to link up through the midfield and find some targets of their own — a spectacular goal line grab from Nathan Mifsud was the standout.

Baxter Mensch was instrumental in the midfield. Picture: Mark Wilson

A brilliant Cameron O’Leary toe poke led to a Harrison King shot on goal — it appeared to sail through truly but was ruled a behind.

It was a sign of things to come with the Seagulls scoring 1.4 for the term as Anderson stepped up as a major threat and midfield star Baxter Mensch collected influential touches.

With a year’s worth of hindsight, Torquay coach Dom Gleeson said he would train his Tigers a touch harder than he did 12 months ago.

“We’ve been in this situation before,” Gleeson said, singling out Doyle as close to BOG.

“We probably didn’t train as hard as what we should have (last year) ... pulled back a little bit.”

Seagulls co-coach Mitch Herbison, who missed the game due to injury along with Kyle Polley, said his side didn’t take its chances, particularly in the second term.

“That was probably the difference between the two sides,” Herbison said, who expected to return for the preliminary final.

“They took their chances when they had them and we weren’t able to.

“They certainly deserved to win, they were the better side on the day.”

BEST: Lucas Anderson (3), Ben McNamara (2), Chase Loftus (1).

Originally published as Torquay a step closer to avenging last year’s grand final loss after beating Barwon Heads by 57 points at Portarlington