Gun Torquay forward Henderson edges closer to a senior return
STAR Torquay forward Billy Henderson has edged a step closer to a preliminary final selection after making a successful return in the reserves.
Henderson, a proven finals performer, has not played at senior level since Round 10 and was in serious doubt to play again this season as he battles back and hamstring issues.
But the lively forward gave the Tigers something to be excited about as they prepare for Saturday’s preliminary final against Geelong Amateur, playing a full game in the reserves.
“He went one step closer (on the weekend). He played reasonable footy in our twos, who got tested for the first time this year,” Torquay senior coach Dom Gleeson said.
“I thought he played some pretty good footy. Paul Burchell is another one who can come in next week. We made a late call on him to rest him this week, but who do I take out?”
A week after Gleeson rested both himself and captain Ben Raidme for the qualifying final clash against Barwon Heads, Burchell was managed.
Gleeson admits it was a brave call to look past Burchell, but it paid dividends with the Tigers belting Anglesea without him.
“We’ve had a mantra all year that if one soldier goes down we’ll have another one ready and I feel we’ve certainly done that,” Gleeson said. “It didn’t work out that well last week (against Barwon Heads) and there was a little bit of regret not playing ‘Raids’, but we just felt an extra week would be outstanding for him and he was pretty good.”
The only injury concern out of Sunday’s clash against the Roos was a corky to Paul McMahon, but Gleeson is confident the veteran will be fit this weekend.
Torquay will take confidence into the clash against Ammos, thrashed by Barwon Heads in Saturday’s second semi-final.
But Gleeson remains wary of the minor premier.
“We want to make sure that we focus on using (our) momentum,” Gleeson said. “No doubt (Ammos coach) Kane (Tenace), ‘Youngy’ (champion Jarrod Young) and Mitch Day and the boys will really lock in and pick out our faults, and a loss like that can strengthen the resolve in a group and we’ve really got to dig deep this week.”