Montmorency coach Nick Rutley discusses club’s gameplan and expectations

31 for 31: Montmorency coach Nick Rutley has a simple expectation for 2024 and has been pleased with the Magpies’ DNA as he implements a new gameplan.

James Sekulovski is tackled by Marcus Lentini. Picture: Josh Chadwick

Playing finals and winning finals, that’s Montmorency coach Nick Rutley’s expectation for 2024.

The Magpies will look to improve on last season’s straight sets NFNL Division 1 finals exit with a new-look gameplan.

Rutley admits it could take four to six weeks for the new system to bed in fully but has been pleased with pre-season preparations.

“I want to be playing finals and winning finals, it’s as simple as that,” the former Carlton AFLW coach and Williamstown VFL assistant said.

“People talk about talent, recruiting or numbers on the track – but it can be misleading.

Sam Binion in action for Montmorency. Picture: Josh Chadwick

“Yes, Harvey Hooper and Cal Brown are going to be playing for us but they’re VFL listed and that’s their priority.

“We need to teach a totally new gameplan and make sure it’s embedded and continue to grow it.

“Everyone wants success now and success in September, so our challenge is to work out what Montmorency was good at last year and try and grow that and what they were lacking and bring that up to an improved level.

“We might look a bit messy in the first four to six weeks but it’s all purposeful to make sure we’re playing footy at the right time of year.”

Rutley said the club had a strong contested football mantra that would hold it in good stead.

“They’re probably a little bit harshly judged, Jonno (Manzoney) and Garry (Ramsay) had this team top-two, top-three and playing finals but the expectation is you have to win,” Rutley said.

“The commentary around how long since they’ve won one, finals at Preston, but I strip it back to a really good team one-on-one and at the contest and we’ve been able to build on that.

“I’m really happy that’s part of their DNA.”

Jesse Thompson in action for Montmorency. Picture: Josh Chadwick

Montmorency has been active in the pre-season, securing VFL talent Nash Holmes full-time from Deer Park.

Box Hill Team of the Year star Callum Brown and Port Melbourne captain and reigning best-and-fairest Harvey Hooper have signed on but will remain focused on their VFL commitments.

Ayham Bajramov (Heathmont) and Jacob Naismith (Bundoora) have also joined.

The Magpies will be without gun ruckman Liam Wale-Buxton after he moved south to join Mornington Peninsula club Sorrento, while Jake Spencer has hung up the boots after a mid-season ACL tear.

The likes of captain Sam Binion, Rosbrook Medal runner-up Marcus Lentini and back-to-back Division 1 leading goalkicker Patrick Fitzgerald will again be important cogs.

However, Rutley has been impressed by a number of unheralded Magpies that he is looking to to take the next step.

“I think Benny Paterson has been really good and Nick Green has been really good, they’ve stood out,” he said.

“We’ve got a lot of talent at VFL and Northern Knights but we’ve got some good hard-nosed Montmorency homegrowns, (Alex) Bernardi hasn’t missed a beat and neither has Jesse Thompson, they’ve been super.

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“We had a laugh, I spoke to the group and the big fella (Fitzgerald) was standing up the back and I said ‘do you need to kick 80 goals every year’ and he said no.

“I said ‘good, because we don’t want to kick it to you 140 times a game either’, it’s a luxury to have him down there and we can use his football IQ and presence to go through other avenues.”

Montmorency will ramp up preparations for Round 1 with practice matches against Eastern power Balwyn, East Doncaster and Essendon District club Greenvale and play and under-23s match against neighbours Lower Plenty.

The Magpies face grand finalists Bundoora and Heidelberg in a blockbuster opening fortnight of the season, starting April 13.