Tigers list signs up for back-to-back flag tilt

THE Torquay Tigers’ search for back-to-back Bellarine Football League (BFL) flags has received a huge boost, with 21 of the club’s 2023 premiership players recommitting for 2024.

Senior coach Dom Gleeson said he was “incredibly pleased” every premiership player, excluding the retiring Ben Raidme, had signed on to pursue another flag in the coming season.

Headlining the list of signings is 2023 Les Ash Medallist runner-up Lucas Anderson, three-time league best and fairest winner James Darke and club vice-captain Ben McNamara.

2023 BFL Grand Final best on ground medalist Nathan Mifsud and last month’s club best and fairest winner Chase Loftus have also put pen to paper.

“A focus of the coaching panel and our football team was to try and get as many as possible to recommit,” Gleeson said.

“Our leadership team in Lucas, James and Ben Mcnamara were a huge part of that and really drove it home with the playing group.

“Come the end of August, we almost had all signed on and then the week after the grand final, they were all on board.

“It’s just fantastic for the club. We’ve got the majority of our reserves boys ready to go on again, too.

“It’s certainly the goal to back it up next year. It’s a long road, and we know we need to continue to get better, because other clubs are improving.”

Gleeson said competition would again be fierce for senior and reserve playing spots, with 13 additional players coming up from the Under 18s in 2024.

“We got quite a few who are coming up, which is really exciting.

“It creates a really good competitive environment at training which is what are ultimately trying to do so we can take it into gameday.

“Some of these kids coming up, we are really excited to get into our senior system, and we hope to have them for a number of years.”