Tigers’ premiership defence begins with GF rematch

TORQUAY’S premiership defence begins this afternoon on Easter Saturday with a Grand Final rematch, with the Tigers to hoist the premiership flag in front of last year’s runners-up Drysdale.

Tigers senior coach Dom Gleeson said the team is excited to defend its 2023 premiership, prior to its Round 1 clash against the Hawks.

“The season’s come around pretty quickly I suppose, but we’re ready to rock into it, it’s been a great off season.

“We’ve had a great last few seasons as a club, and we probably lacked a little in the premiership scheme of things, so to win a premiership is great, it takes the pressure off somewhat, but our aim this year is certainly to win it again.

“We won’t be resting on last year’s achievements; we just need to play as the best versions of ourselves going forward.”

The Tigers lost former skipper and future life member Ben Raidme to retirement at the end of last season, which led to Gleeson and his staff recruiting a pair of strong signings.

Torquay has lured former club junior Matt Boag from Newtown & Chilwell, and picked up Luke Mahoney from the Southern Mallee Giants.

Gleeson said Torquay youngster and former Geelong Falcon Reef Page had also made it clear he was committed to the club in 2024 after playing only three senior games for the Tigers in 2023.

“We knew we needed to start entering retention mode last season in June or July, and thankfully the playing group was terrific, meaning we essentially had our whole side committed to 2024 before the end of the season.

“Matty Boag, we’ve known of him making real inroads in Geelong for several years, and we were just really excited to get him back home. Knowing him, he’ll spend the majority of time down forward and in the midfield.

“He’ll also bring an abundance of leadership with him as well, which will be great for our side.

“Luke Mahoney coached his own side on the Mallee, lives here in Torquay, we’ve been talking for past couple of years. I think he’ll be a great acquisition as well.”

Four-time Les Ash Medal winner James Darke will be out until at least Round 6/7 according to Gleeson, as he enters the final hurdles of a ruptured ACL injury he sustained in early 2023.

Gleeson and the Tigers say it is likely to be longer as they take a conservative approach with the gun midfielder.

The Torquay and Drysdale match at McCartney Oval begins at 2.10pm today (Saturday, March 30).