EFL: ‘Resilience’ key to Montrose’s first finals appearance since 2014, coach Gary Ayres says

Gary Ayres’ Demons won a sixth match in a row to book their first finals shot in eight years, with the club breaking an even longer drought.

ONE word sprung to mind for Montrose coach Gary Ayres.

The first-year Demons mentor has led the club into the finals for the first time since 2014 following a thrilling seven-point victory over Croydon on Saturday.

The sixth-straight win sealed fourth with a 10-8 record and denied Croydon a spot, which led by 11 points at the last change.

Faced with two men down on the bench in the fourth term – Ben Johnson (ankle) and Brad Batten-Leitch (suspected knee, unconfirmed) – the final 30 minutes demanded a special effort with a finals spot on the line.

Montrose young gun Dan Chamberlin celebrates on Saturday. Picture: Field of View Photography

Elation among long-time supporters erupted as the siren sounded to draw the curtain on the Eastern league Division 1 season – Ayres’ men, 9.11 (65) to 8.10 (58).

“It was tight, we lost a couple of boys … and to see what the boys were able to do in the last quarter – the word that comes to mind is ‘resilience’,” Ayres said.

“Then as the siren went, (supporters) came on, people that have been at the club for quite some time.

“It was clearly an enjoyable moment and they’re the things you play footy for.”

The eight-year finals hiatus was dashed – but perhaps a more significant drought broken.

“I believe if you go back a bit further from that, it is the first time since 2001 that the three (men’s) teams – under-19s, reserves and seniors – have qualified (for finals),” Ayres said.

“That’s a real positive and when you look at the way the year’s unfolded, it’s been very much about a learning curve for me personally with my other coaches, the players, the club.”

Little separated the Blues and Dees on Saturday. Picture: Field of View Photography

Resilience has been a key theme this season at the Demons in their charge to finals.

Like a host of clubs, illness has run rampant causing a raft of changes each week.

“We really thought we were playing better at different stages (this season),” Ayres said.

“Even in the first half (of the season) I thought we played some pretty good footy, but there was change from Covid, gastro, flu, unavailability, guys that were playing OK in the reserves and clearly they needed to get an opportunity.

“Then it was about trying to work out for the second half of the year who was going to be potentially a player who could go on much longer than this year. We know there’s going to be guys that’ll retire at some stage.

“It was really trying to get the foundation of the team.”

Montrose’s form in the second half of the season cannot be denied.

Since Round 11 when the Dees lost to Wantirna South by 21 points, the club hasn’t dropped a match – the mid-season break the next week proving beneficial, Ayres believes.

Ruckman Andrew Haining has helped the cause, with the 2014 Chandler medallist taking the best afield honours in Saturday’s cliffhanger.

“Andrew’s last six or seven weeks have been important in terms of what we’ve been able to do as far as our structures, clearances, ruckwork, stoppages and that sort of stuff,” Ayres said.

Ayres watches on during a tense encounter with Croydon. Picture: Field of View Photography

Experience and emerging talent has been a winning mix at the club this year.

Seasoned performer Sam Rickard featured alongside his 2013 premiership teammate Haining in the best.

The next wave of guns in Brad Watson, Josh Mentiplay, Ben Dessent and Riley Hams also stood out.

Little has separated Montrose and Wantirna South this campaign – with the pair to clash in an elimination final at Boronia’s Tormore Reserve this Sunday.

They’ve split the ledger 1-1 this season.

Confusion swept Walker Reserve in Round 2 at the final siren as Montrose prevailed by a point – a suspected scoreboard error leading the Wantirna South camp to believe it had finished a draw.

In Round 11, the Dees kicked 11.23 to the Devils’ 17.8.

“Clearly there was an opportunity lost for us when we played them the second time, we had 34 scoring shots to their 25 and we did most things right on the day except hit the scoreboard. They (Wantirna South) were efficient inside 50,” Ayres said.

“It’ll be an interesting day … I think we match-up reasonably well and the personnel that’ll play on Sunday I’d say will be a fair bit different to when we played them back in Round 11.”