Torquay kick 9.17 to 2.3 after half time to push Modewarre aside and go 6-0

The BFNL’s reigning premiers may have lost their key forward to a knee injury, but they showed they still have the weapons to defend their crown.

Matthew Boag gave the Tigers some forward line impetus in the third term. Picture: Mark Wilson

Any thoughts that the Bellarine’s biggest upset in recent seasons could occur at Torquay’s McCartney Oval on Saturday were quickly buried by a 20-minute black and yellow barrage.

Torquay, its second game without key forward Lucas Anderson due to a knee injury, had struggled for precision up forward with options Harry McLeod and Nathan Mifsud without a six-pointer and its number one goalkicker, Geelong VFL-listed Patrick Hughes, not playing.

At half time, Torquay had kicked an uncharacteristic 3.10 to Modewarre’s 7.4 and Mark Hovey’s men might have thought this was their chance to take their biggest scalp of 2024, and by a considerable distance.

However, while more than competitive, without the likes of Tom Worpel, Josh Hovey and captain Jeremy Ollis, even the most one eyed of Warrior fans would not have anticipated a Tiger response after half time with the visitors leading by three straight kicks.

There was hope, but it was no doubt tempered.

Earlier, at the quarter time break, senior coach Dom Gleeson had instructed his charges to make the most of its forward entries and cut down on Modewarre’s uncontested marks.

Torquay coach Dom Gleeson. Picture: Mark Wilson

It’s fair to say the 6-0 Tigers would ultimately respond to that request, with gun recruit Matt Boag providing a spark from the goalsquare, as the Tigers booted 7.9 to 1.1 in the third term.

The Tigers were undeniably inaccurate, but you couldn’t avoid the feeling the dam wall was about to burst under a relentless number of forward entries.

Manned by the Warriors’ Nat Matthews, Boag was instrumental in the Tigers’ lift in productivity in the third; slotting a couple of majors including a special banana from the pocket after relying on his forward craft to outmark his opponent.

The former Newtown & Chilwell champion now has 11 goals from six games, one behind former Geelong Falcon Hughes.

And you could argue Torquay is better equipped than most to cater for the monumental loss of last year’s leading goalkicker: Anderson slotted 86 from 20 games last year, with 10 bags of five or more including a crucial six in the grand final.

Torquay is the second most prolific in the BFNL, behind Barwon Heads by three points, despite not having a goalkicker within the league’s top 10 and Hughes not playing since Round 3.

Torquay’s Batt Boag’s shot sailed wide. Picture: Mark Wilson

On Saturday in the third term, a booming shot from outside the arc from defender Michael Croxford was the icing on the cake – putting the home team 23 points clear – as the Tigers produced the kind of statement expected from the Bellarine’s best team.

It was reminiscent of their opponent in last year’s grand final, Drysdale, who kicked 10.6 to Portarlington’s no score on Anzac Day.

Just like that match nine days prior, and the Hawks’ display against an injury-hit Anglesea in Round 3, an evenly poised contest quickly became a procession as the Tigers continued to surge the ball forward and put the Warriors under increasing pressure, all over the ground.

At three quarter time, Warriors coach Mark Hovey had demanded his charges produce one last winning quarter after arguably having the better of the 5-0 reigning premiers to half time, and to put it in the hands of super boot Tom Hornsey.

Modewarre coach Mark Hovey Picture: Mark Wilson

However, it was not to be, a Connor Joseph goal just before the final siren the Warriors’ second six-pointer of the half, as the reigning premiers had 26 scoring shots to just five over two terms.

Hornsey and Joseph were starved of opportunities and the likes of Croxford, captain Ben McNamara and Oscar Lewis went to work.

The latter was named his side’s best as the Tiger defence upped its game, just as the forward line had.

The Tiger machine continues to roll on.

Originally published as Torquay kick 9.17 to 2.3 after half time to push Modewarre aside and go 6-0