Tigers redeemed in GF win over Hawks, legend calls time

TORQUAY Football Club has been crowned premiers of the Bellarine Football League this afternoon (Saturday, September 9) with a stalwart of the club calling time on a multi-premiership career.

Torquay overcame a determined Drysdale side by 32 points, toppling the fellow top-two seed Hawks with a seven-goal fourth quarter to claim the contest 16.14.110 to 12.6.78 at Grinter Reserve.

The win also marked the final game of one of Torquay’s all-time greats, Ben Raidme, who had a fairytale ending with his second flag with the Tigers. Today was his 270^th career game.

Drysdale threw the first punch of the contest, knocking in three goals to lead 20-11 at the opening break, before Torquay evened things up with six second-quarter goals to draw up a three-point lead at half time, leading 48-45.

The thousands who attended the game from both towns were privy to a back-and-forth contest through three quarters, with Drysdale leading 63-64 at three-quarter-time on the back of more Jake Hargreaves magic.

Tigers coach Dom Gleeson inspired his side out of the final break, with Les Ash Medal runner-up Lucas Anderson and Torquay young gun Nathan Mifsud grabbing a hold of the contest in the final term.

Drysdale was limited to just two majors in the final term, as Torquay ran away with a seven-goal blitz in the fourth, running away 32-point winners and claiming the club’s ninth premiership in its 71-year history, its first since 2017.

Mifsud was named best-on-ground for his six goals in the contest.

Gleeson addressed his side in the change room following the final siren with a speech for Raidme, saying he would be remembered as a legend of the club.

Raidme concluded his own speech to his teammates and supporters with four words: “I love this club”.

“I know Torquay means so much to Ben,” Gleeson said post-game.

“He’s had an unbelievable career; he’s a great mate and he deserves to go out like that.

“There’s no fairy tales in footy, and I felt like that last year losing a grand final horribly, but he did, he got that fairy tale and I love that for him.”

Anderson matched Mifsud with six goals in another sensational performance from the key forward. Tim Carty and Raidme, fittingly as the two most senior players on the list, scored Torquay’s two remaining goals.

Drysdale’s Hargreaves kicked four on the day, while Ben Fennell kicked three. The Hawks’ key forwards in Tom Ruggles and James Breust kicked a pair each, and Bailey Sykes managed a single on the day.

Torquay was further bolstered by Baxter Mensch, Chase Loftus, Charlie Ham, and Michael Croxford, who were named in the side’s best on ground.