EFNL 2025: ‘Step up’ — Montrose coach Gary Ayres’ call to cover ex-AFL forward

Montrose coach Gary Ayres discusses his plan to rejig the Dees’ attack following the exit of one of the club’s biggest stars, while there’s also been a package of key signings.

Montrose coach Gary Ayres says only collective effort can fill the void left by departing ex-AFL forward Ryan Garthwaite. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)

MONTROSE coach Gary Ayres says his players simply must step up to fill the void left by the departure of one of the club’s biggest stars.

Former AFL Tiger Ryan Garthwaite’s exit leaves the Demons needing to find more than 50 goals this season.

The 26-year-old has joined Albury after topping the Eastern Division 1 goalkicking last year with 56 – booting a combined 105 majors across the past two seasons.

Ryan Garthwaite has joined Albury, with the Dees needing to find more than 50 goals this season. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)

“I guess the best way to put it is, that goal tally is going to have to come from the collective,” Ayres said, who recently signed a two-year contract extension.

“Whether it’s going to be our high backs who can hit the scoreboard more, or our midfielders who could do the same, and sharing the load around the forward line.

“We would like to feel that Michael Schwab comes back from his ACL (and) that will no doubt add some class and X-factor.

“But I feel some of our younger guys will have to step up – Ty Galbraith, Isaac Tanzimat and Bailey White who’s now approaching 60-odd games, Kyle Staples is another one.

“The collective will have to do it, and hopefully that will make us a little bit more flexible.”

The Demons have snared one of the league’s most exciting young prospects this off-season, with former Eastern Ranges and North Melbourne VFL-listed talent Hayden Smith crossing from Division 2 club The Basin.

Exhibiting versatility on the wing, on-ball and up forward, Smith put up a whopping 11 mentions in the Bears’ best from 15 games in 2024.

And he’s impressed his new coach this pre-season.

Hayden Smith on the burst for The Basin. Picture: George Sal

“I’ve been very, very pleased with what Hayden has done thus far,” Ayres said.

“He’s had a really good pre-season, he’s been really consistent in all aspects of what you’d like to see, his skill level is very pleasing and promising.

“He’s already had a bit of a taste of it at a higher level, and being in that (younger) age demographic, we would like to think he’ll bring those attributes and strengths of playing in the midfield … with his disposal, he could hurt the opposition.”

The Demons have also added Casey VFL-listed utility Brayden Laplanche from top-division club Rowville, ex-Norwood SANFL inside midfielder Mitch Cotter joins from Drouin alongside half-back Ryan Quirk and Lilydale defender Bailey Bateman.

Meanwhile, high hopes surround 200cm Rowville import Jack Deidrich, who could fill the No. 1 ruck role left vacant by Charlie Rossetti, who has joined Macedon.

“We’d like to think he’ll (Deidrich) be a ruck starter, and hopefully he makes that position his own,” Ayres said.

The club has also farewelled captain Ben Dessent (East Brighton) while stalwart Jack Garthwaite has retired.

Montrose has featured in finals for the past three seasons under Ayres, suffering a first-week exit last year.

But it has had a shorter pre-season this time around in its bid to improve.

“We’re hoping this’ll make us fresher through the middle of the year to later in the year,” Ayres said.

“Individually it was about getting stronger – we’ve had a very young side and it’ll probably be younger this year … (and) clearly getting fitter because there’s a lot of players still developing.

“The other thing is trying to be consistent, because I feel we have been inconsistent as a group.

“If you achieve those three things that’ll lead to winning games.”

Montrose opens its season at home to Bayswater on April 5.