Laurie De Goldi. Brendan McCartney. Mark Neeld.
For 21 years, that trio stood as the only three coaches in Bellarine history to win three premierships.
The exclusive club now has a new member after Dom Gleeson squared his personal ledger at 3-3 with Torquay’s 62-point win over Anglesea in Saturday’s grand final at Leopold Memorial Park.
It’s a feat not lost on Gleeson.
However, when his achievement was raised, he quickly credited those who have supported him since arriving at McCartney Oval in late 2014.
“I’d be naive to think I’m doing it alone,” he said. “I’m standing here next to Tom Butler, who had a huge influence on the growth of our reserve group.
“Then (assistant coaches) Stuey Hill, Aaron Nesbitt, and Pete Raidme.
“I’ve said it before; I just feel very lucky that I moved down to Torquay off the back of my cousin Aaron (Gleeson) playing down here.
“The key callout for me is the mainstayers in Aaron Nesbitt, Stuey Hill, Pete Raidme. And then Ged Brody going back a bit. Cam Healy and Ben Kennedy, as well.
“I get all the accolades, being the premiership coach, and they do as much work as I do.
“I’m very lucky to have the support I’ve got.”
“My father once said to me, ‘You haven’t got choosing your clubs wrong, have you? You just keep choosing the right clubs’.”
The grand final was Gleeson’s 174th game in charge of Torquay, where he has posted a 138-36 win-loss record.
He sits third overall for games coached in the Bellarine behind Matthew Sproule (178) and Steve Clark (177).
Gleeson will break the record in Round 5 next year.
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