EFL 2019: Peter Bastinac to lead Montrose in Division 1
Montrose will continue to invest in its junior talent next year as it prepares for relegation to EFL Division 1 following a one-win season.
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Montrose coach Peter Bastinac will remain at the Demons in 2020 but is reserving judgment on the club’s prospects next season.
Montrose was relegated this year after a one-win season, and will continue to invest in its junior talent.
Teenagers Bailey White, Beau Tennant and Tyler Birchall were each exposed to Premier Division football in 2019 and the club is working at establishing its under-19s side.
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“That’s been our Achilles heel — without the under-19s, we haven’t had that group of players coming through,” Bastinac said.
“Every team finds one or two 19s boys that can step up and play senior footy and we haven’t had that for two years.
“We were lucky this year we had Bailey White, Beau Tennant, Tyler Birchall all up from the 17s playing senior footy.
“You go back to Premier with all those boys having experienced Premier Division footy and Division 1 level, that just builds your strength from beneath and then you can just try and get the top-end talent in without trying to recruit half a dozen to 10 players.”
Bastinac said it was his intention to remain at Montrose for a third season.
The Demons have won just six games since he took over ahead of the 2018 campaign.
“Especially after the two years we’ve had, I didn’t think it was time to leave,” he said.
“I think I’ve still got the capabilities to push the club up.
“I’m disappointed we’re not going to be (in Premier Division) but we have to be real and understand we’re not at that level right now.
“That’s not to say we won’t be in 12 months. I just think there’s so much upside at Montrose — we’re only scratching the surface I think.”
Bastinac indicated midfielder Tim Jones would again try his hand at VFL but remain aligned with Montrose.
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He said the club needed to build a winning culture after a lean period for the club, which finished in the bottom three in the top tier for the past three seasons.
“We got great belief out of our last three weeks this year,” he said.
“We were in a winning position against Rowville, we smacked North Ringwood and we were in a winning position at three-quarter time against South Croydon.
“We could’ve easily won those three games.
“It looks like 98 per cent of the list is going to come back. I’d expect there is a couple of 17s boys that will be ready to play senior footy next year in Division 1.
“I think the playing group knows what we’re capable of with another 12 months together.”
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