Tigers and Hawks to clash in BFL decider

TORQUAY and Drysdale will decide their season tomorrow (Saturday, September 9) at 2pm, as the two sides meet in this year’s Grand Final at Grinter Reserve.

The Tigers, who are in search of redemption from last year’s shock Grand Final defeat to Barwon Heads, will have to overcome a fast-charging Hawks side in search of its first BFL crown since 2010.

 

 

First-year Torquay captain Ben McNamara won’t have the luxury of running onto the ground with co-captain and star midfielder James Darke, but the full-back is looking forward to the challenge.

“Drysdale is obviously a really strong outfit, very physical, but they also have a lot of speed and youth,” McNamara said.

 

 

“They’re a lot different and they present a real challenge to us, I think both teams suit each other well, evident by Drysdale’s kick after the siren to beat us last time out, so I think it’s going to be a really tough match between the two best teams in the comp.”

The Hawks secured its Grand Final berth last week in a 9-point win over Barwon Heads, in what was Drysdale’s fourth attempt at beating the reigning premiers in 2023.

 

 

Drysdale captain Mitch McGuire, who says his side has heaps to give following its Preliminary Final win, will lead the Hawks into their first seniors Grand Final oval since 2013, but the occasion is not weighing on his mind.

“I’m not thinking about the occasion too much, you can only control what you can control,” McGuire said.

“All we can do is prepare our best for Saturday and give it our absolute best for sure and see if we’ll come out on top.”

Torquay coach Dom Gleeson made the decision to purely coach at the end of 2022 to help make way for nine new additions to the side this year.

 

 

“It’s a different looking list we have this season, there are some same players in there, but last year’s Grand Final is not something we’ve really talked about,” Gleeson said.

“Year-by-year the list has changed so much, we’re just looking forward to getting out there and enjoying ourselves.

“We know we’re good enough to win it, we just have to cash in.”

 

 

Hawks co-coach Ben Carmichael told his players to enjoy the moment of Grand Final week following Drysdale’s win last weekend, given the rarity of it for local footballers.

“You play football all through juniors and then you move into senior footy, and one of the only consistencies in football is your family,” Carmichael said.

 

 

“Like I said to the boys after the game, it probably means more to them than it does to the players, but we’re aware we still have one big hurdle to cross in Torquay.

“When it comes to Torquay, you’ve just got to try and limit the amount of ball they get inside 50.”

Tale of the Tape:

Drysdale (12.10.82) defeated by Torquay (18.7.115) – Round 8

Torquay (10.15.75) defeated by Drysdale (11.10.76) – Round 17

Head to Times Footy for Grand Final line-ups for both sides.