Tigers react to historic 9th flag

THE town of Torquay is on a high after its football team defeated Drysdale (110-78) by 32 points last weekend to be crowned Bellarine Football League premiers for 2023.

Torquay head coach Dom Gleeson said it took a very strong team to rebound from a severe Grand Final loss, as the Tigers had in 2022, but that is exactly what his side was this year.

“We had nine changes from last year’s team to this one, but for the team and the club to rebound the way they did, is just such a proud moment for me.

L-R: Lucas Anderson and Nathan Mifsud combined for 12 goals to lift the Tigers to the win last weekend.

“It’s also a humbling moment because I was in Ben Raidme’s shoes 12 months ago, it was my last game, and I didn’t want anyone else to go through that ever again.

“It’s local football, but it means so much to so many people. The amount of work Aaron Nesbitt, myself, Pete Raidme, Stuart Hill and Marty Lanyon have put into this year, we felt super prepared, and we got the result we were after.”

Saturday’s game marked the end of the local footy career of Torquay great Ben Raidme after 270 games.

“The decision was made at the start of the pre-season, pretty much from the get-go, my wife Nat was supportive of me to go around one more time, and I didn’t want to finish on the note of how last year ended,” Raidme said.

Ben Raidme had a fairytale ending to his last game of local footy.

“I just wanted to be part of something special, and I thought we could be special this year, so it’s really allowed me to enjoy and savour the year.

“I’ll miss the people, the teammates, the connections you make. I love the competitiveness of Saturday afternoons, it really gets me going for lack of a better phrase, but I’m going to miss the people, that’s for sure.”

Injured co-captain James Darke receives his premiership medal.

The Tigers blitzed the Hawks with seven goals in the fourth quarter to snatch the game from Drysdale, highlighted by a spoil on the goalline by Tigers veteran Tim Carty and many highlights from young gun and best-on-ground medal recipient Nathan Mifsud.

First-year captain Ben McNamara was without his co-captain James Darke due to an ACL injury suffered earlier in the year.

“When the siren went, I was so elated with joy, but also quite shattered, because James was not out there with me, he’s such a great friend of mine,” McNamara said.

“I wish he was out there playing with me; I really do, he’s been so instrumental for us in 2023, and it’s hard to describe how excited I am to see him back out there with us next season.

“I love Jim, and I can’t describe it any other way.”