EFNL 2022: Montrose defeats Wantirna South by a point in heart-stopping finish

There was confusion over the result at the final siren as Montrose and Wantirna South met in the EFNL’s Division 1 on Saturday...

Confusion swept Walker Reserve at the final siren as Montrose posted its first victory of the season.

The Demons edged Wantirna South, 12.14 (86) to 12.13 (85) on Saturday afternoon to toast senior coach Gary Ayres’ maiden win at the club. But there were nerves galore in the extraordinary finish.

A suspected scoreboard error in a seesawing final term had the Wantirna South camp believing the match had finished in a draw at the siren, while Montrose was celebrating in certainty of claiming the points.

But that wasn’t all.

A kicking-in-danger free to Wantirna South’s Jaryd Smith resulted in a shot for goal to win the match after the siren. The kick misfired from around 45 metres out in the corridor and scored a behind, leading the Devils to believe they had tied. The umpires met and confirmed the scoreboard to be correct, in Montrose’s favour.

It wasn’t how Ayres had envisaged his first victory in charge, nor how the Dees’ players thought they would open their account for 2022.

Montrose coach Gary Ayres celebrates his first win in charge. Picture: Davis Harrigan

“We thought we’d won, and Wantirna South thought they had actually drawn the game, and we had to wait for the umpires to go to the middle of the ground, confirm (the score) and wave the flags,” Ayres said.

“It came to us pretty quickly that the people in the next box (Wantirna South) were saying ‘No, it’s a draw!’ … I just sort of stood there for a minute, our team were pretty disappointed, then the umpire’s waved the flags and said it’s a one-point win to us.

“An anti-climax in the first win of the year for the boys.”

Wantirna South senior coach Steve Cochrane recounted the cliff-hanging finish.

“Someone came in halfway through the quarter and said the score was wrong … the timekeepers were unsure until the final siren when they actually convened with the goal umpires,” Cochrane said.

“The timekeepers thought that they were short, and Wantirna South were only one point behind, so that’s why we thought it was a draw when he (Smith) scored a behind.

“When the goal umpires checked the scorecards, the scoreline was right.”

Very little separated the sides all day. Picture: Davis Harrigan

Montrose fought its way back from 12 points down at half-time, cutting the margin to just five at the final break.

The sides traded goals in a nail-biting last quarter before second-gamer Dan Chamberlain kicked his third major and the eventual winner for the visitors inside Two-and-a-half minutes to play.

Ayres credited his group’s resolve in a taxing final term, pointing to the performances of several youngsters.

“I think it’s validation for the toughness of the group, and it was led by a lot of our younger boys which is nice to see,” he said.

“Ben Johnson in the ruck, Dan Chamberlain with three, Dean Curnow presented a real focal point for us (up forward) and Taj Heap, Beau Tennant, Bailey White, all those guys were really positive in the last quarter.

“From an individual point of view, I think it just gives those guys a bit of confidence, and we were led really well by the likes of Ben Dessent, Brendan Gardoll and Jack Garthwaite in defence.”

Max Hall and Brad Watson also finished among Montrose’s best, while White joined Chamberlain with multiple majors, kicking two.

Wantirna South’s Marcus Jordan flies for a grab. Picture: Davis Harrigan

Bailey Cowman and Liam Hewett finished with three goals each for the Devils as Lincoln Wong booted two, while Luke Grima and David Lang finished among the best.

Montrose takes on Mooroolbark away in Round 3, while Wantirna South travels to Upper Ferntree Gully.