BFL 2023: Torquay and Drysdale set to welcome back stars for top-two showdown

First takes on second in the BFL this weekend, and both sides are set to welcome back big names. See who is line to return.

Torquay and Drysdale are set to be bolstered for their top-two showdown at McCartney Oval on Saturday, with both sides flagging several potential inclusions.

Torquay coach Dom Gleeson said four key players — former captain Ben Raidme (lower back), inside midfielder Sheldon Ham (rested), goalkicker Jesse Dawson (groin) and defender Billy Henderson (lower back/hamstring) are all in contention to return against the Hawks, with a call to be made after training on Thursday night.

Dawson currently sits seventh in the BFL goalkicking this year with 41 majors and will stretch the Drysdale defence if recalled.

Drysdale will welcome back former AFL player Lauchlan Dalgleish, who was rested last week with soreness, with ruckman Matt Pigott and Mitch O’Dowd also available.

But the ladder-leading Tigers can afford to be cautious on the selection front given they have already sewn up top spot.

Jesse Dawson is in the mix to return. Picture: Mark Wilson

“We’re probably going to make a few changes, we’ve just got to have a look tonight at a few guys who are coming back so we aren’t rushing them,” Gleeson said.

“We are in a position where we don’t have to rush anyone back too so we are mindful of that and fortunate we aren’t going to lose top spot, so we will just make sure we bring those guys back when they are ready.”

A Tigers win could see the Hawks could see them drop to third after leapfrogging reigning premier Barwon Heads last week, who they are certain to play in a qualifying final clash.

Drydale co-coach Ben Carmichael says while their spot on the ladder “doesn’t really matter” with the double chance locked in, he views this match-up against the Tigers as a major opportunity to see where they compare against the benchmark of the BFL.

“It is probably just a real opportunity to see how we stack up against the clear best side in the comp and leading up to finals a perfect opportunity to see where we are at, an opportunity to see where we need to improve,” Carmichael said.

“But we are certainly looking forward to the challenge of going down there and taking on a really strong Torquay team.

“You obviously try and qualify as high as you can. I guess if we’re finishing second we might have won the last two games so I guess that’s a positive but in the bigger scheme of things it doesn’t really matter.

“We set out to get that double chance, we’ve now got it but we’ve got to build some form heading into that first final which will be (against) Barwon Heads.

Originally published as BFL 2023: Torquay and Drysdale set to welcome back stars for top-two showdown