Tigers can cover the loss of key players

PREMIERSHIP bonds last forever, but teams don’t. That’s what coach Dom Gleeson has realised after his side completed a season to remember in winning last year’s BFL flag.

“I often thought that premierships would galvanise teams and get them closer,” Gleeson said.

“But what it’s done, it’s just allowed people to go and do what they’ve wanted to do for a while, which is travel and go and play with a few mates, or go back home and play with their brothers,” referring to the departures of premiership players Dave Allitt and James Darke (overseas), Josh Hovey (St Joseph’s), Scott Hughes (Nhill) and Adam Sewell (Newlyn).

Hovey’s departure was taken the hardest, with Gleeson deciding to apologise to the departing ruckman after an emotional phone call.

“I knew about 99 per cent of them were leaving during the season, so it wasn’t a shock to me,” Gleeson said.

“The Josh Hovey one was; it just came at a time where all those sort of players had been and gone. Josh and I have spoken about that and we’re on decent terms now, but obviously I was really disappointed to get that phone call.

“I don’t think I hid my emotions too well with Josh, so I’ve had to apologise since. But I do think we’ve recruited well enough to back up.”

Hovey and Sewell were worth seven points between them last year, while four other premiership players drop a point for a year’s service, allowing Torquay to replenish its list.

Ruckman-forward Jake Reeves (Kyabram) will help cover the Hovey-Hughes departures, while Patrick Kelleher (St Joseph’s) adds a touch of class into the Tigers’ midfield. Tom Henderson (Bell Park), Jono Hobbs (Port Douglas) and Cameron Sharp (Aberfeldie) also deepen the list, while ex-Geelong Falcon Mitch Chafer returns to the club as a one-point player.

“We’ve still got the issue of being quite heavy in points, because we are a holiday destination ... but hopefully we can massage that throughout the year,” Gleeson said.