Gleeson praises forward tandem during unblemished start

TORQUAY Football Club head coach Dom Gleeson has praised a pair of his forwards heading into the first of two Bellarine Football League’s (BFL) competition-wide byes, with last year’s runner-up the only undefeated side left.

The BFL’s top two goal-kickers after Round 7, Lucas Anderson (34) and Jesse Dawson (28), both call Spring Creek Reserve home and are setting the pace for goalkickers in 2023, causing headaches for opposition backlines over the past two months.

Anderson, who was the clear-cut leader in majors, snagged five goals last weekend in the side’s 179-45 win over Portarlington, but that haul was dwarfed by Dawson, who kicked 12 goals against the Demons to lift the small forward up the leaderboard.

“I know it’s early, but Lucas has some real consistency in his footy as the moment,” Gleeson said.

“We’ve been very fortunate to have his services, and to make it even more impressive, the games where he’s kicked bags, he’s actually been very selfless with the ball – he’s the definition of a team player and it just flows onto the rest of team.

“Jess, like Lucas, is so selfless, and he was able to get onto the end of a couple over the weekend, it’s just so pleasing to watch.”

Torquay has been able to go one step further than their first seven rounds in 2022 after Gleeson’s side went 6-1 a year ago, but the Tigers coach said not much felt different this season, apart from the age.

“Nothing much has changed with the side to be honest, apart from the fact that we are just a bit younger,” he said.

“We just feel good at the moment, the injury list has helped in the sense that we’ve been able to manage a few guys and not rush them back.

“No one really likes to rest, but we’re focused on timing our run later in the season.”

Torquay takes on an in-form side in Drysdale at Mortimer Oval next Saturday (May 27) after the league-wide bye.

The Hawks have won its past five contests, with forward Tom Ruggles trailing Anderson and Dawson on the goals leaderboard with 24.