EFL 2022: Box Hill Hawk Max Hall nets ‘35 disposals’ in best afield display for Montrose

A VFL-listed young gun played his best match for the club on Saturday according to coach Gary Ayres, and is among a long line of emerging talent driving Montrose’s EFL Division 1 push.

Montrose banked a percentage-boosting win on Saturday as finals remains a chance, but senior coach Gary Ayres has a keen eye on the future.

Front and centre in the Demons’ 91-point victory over Upper Ferntree Gully was emerging inside midfielder Max Hall, who lit it up with a best afield display.

The former Eastern Ranges talent has played four matches for VFL outfit Box Hill this season, but has also provided plenty across his nine Eastern league Division 1 appearances.

Ayres is keen to keep progressing the young gun towards higher levels, with Hall earning high praise from the coach for Saturday’s showing.

Montrose’s Max Hall provided plenty in an inside-midfield role on Saturday, helping feed Billy Schilling (seven goals) and Mitch Davis (six). Field of View Sports Photography

“It (Saturday) was probably his best game in relation to the position he played,” Ayres said.

“He played a really strong game in how we were able to get our score launches from our back half and then from our stoppages I thought he was really good and his ball-use to our forwards just gave them great looks at it.

“I thought he had 35 disposals from memory and he was a really strong competitor for the whole four quarters … we’re really keen to see him progress.”

Hall is among a long line of emerging names to have made a mark across the past two seasons for the Demons, with up to 13 debutants blooded in the seniors this year – the latest being tall defender Daniel Frith on Saturday who captains the under-17s.

Inside midfielder Brad Watson and ruckman Ben Johnson are central to the club’s build, while the likes of Rhys Smith, Bailey White, Taj Heap, Dean Curnow, Dan Chamberlain and Josh Mentiplay are also among several youngsters to have made an impact.

But Ayres believes they’ve yet to scratch the surface.

“It’s really important we see what they’re capable of being able to do, but I don’t think they’ve really scratched the surface as far as their talent or where they know their game, I don’t think that comes until they’ve played about 50 games,” Ayres said.

“It’s got to be what we have to do for the future because there are some guys in the twilight of their careers and how they perform is up to them, clearly we need their experience and knowledge … it gives you that nice balance.”

Montrose coach Gary Ayres. Picture: Field of View Sports Photography

Montrose faces Beaconsfield (eighth), Mitcham (third), Lilydale (ninth), Bayswater (seventh) and Croydon (fifth) in the run home – three of which sit below it on the ladder.

It holds a 5-8 record in sixth spot and sits eight points from fifth with a superior percentage.

Finals haven’t been spoken about but Ayres has rated his side’s performances of late, despite falling to Mooroolbark (78 points), East Ringwood (25 points) and Wantirna South (21 points) prior to last weekend.

“Our last three weeks … I’m talking the second-half against Mooroolbark and then East Ringwood and Wantirna South, I think we’ve played some really solid football, but for better conversion in front of goal, I guess moments where we failed to control the situation and get the real advantage out of it, we could be in a slightly better position,” Ayres said.

“But the boys haven’t stopped trying to improve and to accordingly to our game plan and how we want them to play.

“We know the journey we’re on and we’re going to stick fat to that, but we still want to get as much out of this year as we possibly can.”