EFNL Division 1: Ryan Garthwaite produces winning point in Montrose’s extra-time qualifying final

Former AFL Tiger Ryan Garthwaite produced one of the most important pieces of play in Montrose’s season to edge his side to an extra-time qualifying final win on Saturday.

A former AFL Tiger dragged Montrose over the line in an extra-time qualifying final cliffhanger on Saturday.

Ryan Garthwaite finished best afield with four goals as the Demons edged Mitcham 10.8 (68) to 10.7 (67) at Boronia’s Tormore Reserve to book a semi-final date with minor premier South Belgrave.

But it wasn’t just the 25-year-old’s handiwork off the boot which helped seal the Division 1 heart-stopper.

With the scores locked at 67 apiece at the final siren, the sides stalemated into the five minutes of extra play before Garthwaite presented with the winning behind to nose the Dees ahead – courtesy of his fist.

Ryan Garthwaite produced the match-winning behind in his side's one-point qualifying final win. Picture: Andy Brownbill

A desperate lunge followed by a sweeping right hook sent the hotly-contested ball trickling through the sticks with more than three minutes expired.

“There was a bit of a hack kick back in and he actually punched it through (for a behind), so very, very smart management play by Ryan at that particular point in time,” Montrose senior coach Gary Ayres said.

“That says a little bit about where Ryan’s been able to be in the (AFL) system … to be under a lot of pressure and to have that clear mindset (was impressive).

“Since he’s got himself really right physically in the second half of the year he’s been outstanding.”

‘Whack’: Montrose’s Ryan Garthwaite sets the ball on course for the winning point. Picture: EFNL footage

Montrose led by 31 points at half-time before Mitcham gained the ascendancy at the stoppages in the third term, led by big man Tom Lovell in the ruck.

With the margin slashed to 18 points at the final change, Ayres said his side was left to rue errant ball-use and undisciplined play amid the Tigers’ charge.

“It became a really congested game after half-time,” Ayres said.

“Unfortunately with about four minutes to go maybe, we were in a position where we were two goals in front and there was a fair bit of heat.

“Mitcham were certainly getting the ball with deep entries and we probably caused a little bit of angst to ourselves.

“The match-management and the learnings that’ll come out of it will be really good for our group.”

Ayres and his players belt out the song following Saturday’s win. Picture: Montrose FNC

Ayres lauded his side’s resolve in the one-point victory, highlighting the work of premiership defender Jack Garthwaite and forward Michael Schwab (two goals).

“We’ll take it and we found another way to win, and that’s a positive,” Ayres said.

“We generally have a great ability to grind games out.

“You’ve just got to back your players in that scenario.”

But it wasn’t only Montrose’s seniors locked into a nail-biter, with the club’s under-19s sinking North Ringwood in extra-time – 6.7 (43) to 4.12 (36) – after the pair couldn’t be split at 30 apiece by the final siren.

“To have it happen twice in the same day by players of the same club was, I guess, a bit of a ‘Guinness Book of Records’ moment,” Ayres laughed.

Mitcham takes on North Ringwood in a cut-throat senior semi-final on Sunday, after the Saints defeated Beaconsfield in an elimination bout by 24 points to claim their first finals win since 2014.

Montrose and South Belgrave will play for a spot in the grand final on Saturday, with the loser to face the winner of Mitcham-North Ringwood in a prelim.