Departing Torquay midfielder Baxter Mensch has opened up on his decision to forego the chance to be part of the club’s quest for a hat-trick of premierships and play in Victoria’s northwest next year.
The 24-year-old told K rock Football that “it was definitely a difficult decision” to break his contract with the Tigers and join Sunraysia League club Robinvale Euston.
“I never had any intentions of moving after winning back-to-back flags,” Mensch said. “I was very comfortable in the position I was.
“Then Robinvale came to me with an opportunity which was too good to say no to.
“I’m keen to give country footy a crack, and I’m open to new opportunities and broaden my footy by playing in a different league.”
Mensch says playing at Darwin Buffaloes in the NTFL contributed to his move.
“There are a few Darwin players who are playing in the (Sunraysia) League, and playing up there gained me a bit of traction, which got them to contact me,” he said.
“Jayden Magro is one (player); he’s a top-two goalkicker in the NTFL for Waratah.
“He just signed with Robinvale, too, which definitely swayed me across to play alongside him rather than against him.
“And there’s (Anthony) McDonald-Tipingwuti. Jarrod Brander and a couple of others.”
Torquay’s convincing grand final win over Anglesea in early September secured the club consecutive premierships for the first time since 1987.
The Tigers have never won three in a row despite being the most successful club in Bellarine history, and Mensch admits that winning a hat-trick of flags crossed his mind when making his decision.
“It’s kept me up a bit at night,” he said.
“Once you get the success of one, and then the second in a row, you definitely want to go for three, and that was the plan.
“But, Robinvale have been a top-three, top-four side, and have a got a few additions, so we can definitely do that (win a premiership) up there.”
While disappointed to let Mensch go, Torquay coach Dom Gleeson wasn’t planning on holding him back.
And he says Mensch won’t be a stranger next year.
“It came as a bit of a surprise,” Gleeson said.
“For a young kid who hasn’t got too many ties at the age he’s at – 24 – it’s really hard to hold him to ransom in any way.
“We’ve already discussed opportunities around him coaching during the week with our juniors.
“We lose him on field, which is disappointing. But, there’s potential there that he will still hang around the club and help with our junior programs.”
X: @krockfootball
