EFL 2019: Montrose eyeing improvement this season in the Eastern Football League

Montrose has moved to build its depth as the Demons continue to target top-end talent in their bid to remain in the Eastern Football League top-tier.

Peter Bastinac delivers instructions last year. Picture: James Ross/AAP

Montrose has moved to build its depth by continuing to target top-end talent in a bid to remain in the Eastern Football League’s top-tier.

Montrose won just five games last year and have finished between seventh and 11th since a Division 1 finals appearance in 2014.

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With two teams demoted at the end of last year as part of the EFL restructure, the Demons will be looking for improvement after a 10th placed finish in 2018.

Kieran Urquhart (Chirnside Park) and under-19 talents Shaun McMillan (Park Orchards), Beau Tennant (Mooroolbark) and Bailey White (Mooroolbark) have joined the club over the summer.

Sam Gibson dishes off a handball last year. Picture: Chris Eastman/AAP

Montrose coach Peter Bastinac said the quartet would play senior football in 2019.

He said he was confident the Demons could rise this season.

“We’re in a lot better position than where we were this time last year,” Bastinac said.

“We’ve been able to retain our recruits, which was a priority when you consider Mitch Davis broke his leg in Round 1, Tim Jones missed some footy late in the year, so all these boys are up and going.

“They’ve spent a whole season in the competition together so they know what they’re in for.

“I think as a team and as a collective we’ll play better footy just on the back of that with these boys knowing each other a lot more and being a bit closer.”

The only notable departures have been forward Billy Schilling (North Ringwood) and 2013 Division 2 premiership captain Sam Goodman (retired).

Sam Goodman has hung up the boots. Picture: Mark Dadswell

Bastinac said the Demons were “still trying to find that top-end talent to come into the door”.

“The strategy was to get as many one-point players back into the door as we can to have a strong future with our juniors and we’ve been able to do that,” he said.

“We’ve brought in half-a-dozen boys who should all play senior footy at some stage and then the priority is to work on getting these players at the top end.

“Until it’s done, we’re going to keep trying.”

Bastinac nominated his son, Jordan, and Sam Gibson, Tim Jones, Riley Hams and Brent Paterson as players who should rise this year.

“We’ve got a lot of talent that is young, like 23 and under, who I just think will be better players again this year,” he said.

“There is going to be nowhere to hide this season, that’s for sure.

“We’ll be doing our damnedest to be the most competitive we can be.”

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