Tigers captain Ben McNamara to miss two matches after suffering concussion against Anglesea

A BFNL powerhouse will be without its skipper for the next two games after being hit in the head by an opponent late in the match in Round 14. Watch the vision.

Torquay’s Ben McNamara was escorted from the field in the fourth term against Anglesea. Picture: Mark Wilson

Torquay will be without its premiership captain Ben McNamara for the next two matches after receiving a hit to the head in the final term against Anglesea at McCartney Oval.

The star key defender was escorted from the field by trainers following the incident late in the game against the Roos on Saturday.

The Tigers would win the game by 18 points after a dominant third term proved decisive.

Vision provided by AFL Barwon appears to show Roos forward Tom Couch collect a stationary McNamara after the ball was kicked inside 50.

It took some time for McNamara to get to his feet and looked very unsteady standing upright initially.

Torquay captain Ben McNamara was concussed in the final term against Anglesea. Picture: AFL Barwon.

The incident will be assessed by AFL Barwon’s match review panel.

Under AFL Barwon’s new guidelines, the earliest an affected player can return to the field of play is the 21st day after the concussion was sustained.

Tigers coach Dom Gleeson said McNamara was likely to help out on the bench while sidelined.

“He’ll miss, he’ll be missing his 21 days that's for sure,” Gleeson said.

“He’s having the next couple of days off work.

“Saturday he was a little in and out in regards to feeling good and then getting a bit of head noise.

“He text me this morning suggesting he’s going OK, and wants to help out on the bench if he can which is great.

“We don't lose him totally, that’s for sure.”

The 13-1 Tigers, who lost their only game for the season against Geelong Amateur in Round 13, play Modewarre and Queenscliff in coming weeks.

Meanwhile, Torquay produced another devastating quarter after half time against a top five team to put a game in the balance into far safer territory.

In a repeat of the Tigers’ defeat of Modewarre in Round 6 at home, Torquay kicked 6.2 to 1.3 in the third to turn a four-point deficit into a 25-point lead on Saturday against the Roos.

Anglesea’s Jordan Keras and Paul Nigro with Tom Couch earlier in the season. Picture: Mark Wilson

Back in May, the Tigers kicked 7.9 to the Warriors’ 1.1 in the third term, turning an 18-point deficit into a 26-point lead at the final break.

Only inaccuracy saved the Warriors from a 10-goal belting.

The reigning premiers also did something similar to Drysdale in the opening round, kicking 5.5 to 1.1 in the final term to ice a game that was still in the balance at the final break.

“They’re a good side,” Gleeson said of Anglesea, who were down a few on their bench late in the game.

“Coached really well, they’ve got some really good quality players.

“At half time we were a little bit disappointed with how we were going, particularly in the way we were using the footy, just fundamentally-off.

“For a team to be able to turn that around I think it’s showing some real maturity in such a young group.”

Torquay coach Dom Gleeson. Picture: Mike Dugdale

He said the standard of the BFNL had improved and every team had to prepare strategically each week.

“Good teams, they do great analysis on you, they know your strengths and your weaknesses,” he said.

“Each week you’ve got to put your homework into the side, if you fall asleep at the wheel you will drop a game.

“We’ve been tested most weeks, but we do have the ability to score quickly, it’s just whether or not we can.

“Against Geelong Amateur they really shut us down.”

Meanwhile, Gleeson said there was no chance of star forward Lucas Anderson returning for the finals after a knee injury in Round 4 against Geelong Amateur.

“He’s nearly running, he’s not far off running, he’s been smashing it out in the pool,” he said.

“Looking forward to Lucas Anderson 2.0 when he gets back.”

Originally published as Tigers captain Ben McNamara to miss two matches after suffering concussion against Anglesea