Boag to pull on the yellow and black in 2024

THE Torquay Tigers has secured the signature of one of the Geelong Football League’s top players, with Matt Boag set to return to his junior club for season 2024 and beyond.

Boag, who has played in the GFL for the past seven years, said “the timing was just right” to return to McCartney Reserve to chase his first premiership.

The 29-year-old played at Torquay throughout most of his juniors and debuted for the club at 16 years old.

He then went on to forge a strong career by playing for the Geelong Falcons, Werribee VFL squad and thereafter at Grovedale and Newtown & Chilwell in the GFL.

The inside midfielder is coming off a fantastic 2023, where he averaged 33.6 disposals and close to a goal in 18 games for Newtown & Chilwell.

Boag also set the GFL disposal record at Newtown & Chilwell, amassing a whopping 55 disposals to pair with two goals and 10 clearances against St Albans in Round 11, 2021.

He said it was a dream come true to be returning to Torquay after several years away.

“I’m just so excited to be making the move back to my junior club.

“It’s always been such a nostalgic place and one I’ve always had in the back of my mind to come back too eventually to finish my career.

“Considering I haven’t been in a grand final before, the prospect of helping to forge that at Torquay is incredible enticing.

“I know from experience they don’t come easy and there is a lot of hard work that goes into it.

“I’ll be doing whatever it takes to make sure I can help get the club back to where it wants to be, and that’s winning premierships.

“It’s a very exciting and young group who I can’t wait to play with.”

Torquay senior coach Dom Gleeson said signing Boag on for season and 2024 and beyond was a significant coup for the club.

“We are just ecstatic.

“We’ve been chasing him for as long as I’ve been coaching.

“The timing was right for him to return back to Torquay and it’s perfect timing for us too.

“We lose a leader in Ben Raidme to retirement, and we gain a younger version in Matt Boag.

“He’s done his time in the GFL and now it’s time for him to come home. We couldn’t be happier.”