EFNL 2025: Montrose’s Birra Whyman-Coombes stars in Eastern Division 1 debut

It was a debut to remember for Montrose young gun Birra Whyman-Coombes on Saturday, as he fired to give the Eastern Division 1 club’s finals hopes a welcomed boost. Remember the name ...

EFNL 2025: Montrose's Birra Whyman-Coombes kicked four goals on debut to finish in the best on Saturday. Picture: Supplied

It was a debut to remember for a Montrose young gun as the Eastern Division 1 club’s finals hopes received a welcomed boost.

Zippy forward Birra Whyman-Coombes fired off four goals in his maiden senior match to spearhead the Demons to a 47-point away win over Bayswater on Saturday.

Montrose senior coach Gary Ayres said Whyman-Coombes “earned his spot” following 26 majors from nine matches in the under-19s this season.

Wearing the No. 57, the indigenous talent dazzled on the big stage, finishing in the best players.

“He’s under-19s through our development program – he did the pre-season with us and has been consistently training with the senior squad on a Tuesday and Thursday,” Ayres said.

“You could describe him as a crafty little forward – he’s got good skills and at times on Saturday he put himself in the right position and be on the end of some good play.

“One of the Baysie boys might’ve forgot he (Whyman-Coombes) was in blue and red, he handballed it straight to him and he kicked a goal.

“He’s a really good boy, comes from a good family and we’re certainly appreciative of what he’s got from a talent perspective – he earned his spot and he rewarded the team with his ability to hit the scoreboard.”

The result lifted Montrose’s record to 4-5 with seven home-and-away games remaining, sitting fifth on percentage ahead of North Ringwood.

Ayres, who will step down from his post at season’s end, lamented his side’s inconsistency this year despite being on track for a fourth consecutive finals appearance.

“You’ve just got to keep doing what you can to improve because there is that (finals) carrot,” he said.

“That’s part of the maturity of our group and understanding we are capable … we just haven’t put it together for four quarters.

“Momentum’s important in footy – we haven’t really been able to get on a real roll, we’ve lacked consistency at times, not only in personnel but in quarters and games.”

And the coach under no illusions his side simply must take a scalp amid a hot finals race, with Park Orchards (second), Boronia (fourth) and Beaconsfield (third) in the next three matches.

“There’s no doubt you feel better about yourself when you’re competing against the really top sides,” Ayres said.

“It’ll give us an understanding of where we’re at.”