By Blake Tennant.
Montrose are eager to put last year's Elimination Final loss behind them after an up and down 2024 season.
Gary Ayres will be coaching the demons for a fourth straight season, after recently signing a two-year deal as Senior Coach, extending his tenure into 2026.
A couple of experienced players have left the Demons this year with ex-Richmond player Ryan Garthwaite moving to Albury as well as former club Captain Ben Dessent who departs as well.
But the Demons have recruited well, Hayden Smith, last year's Best and Fairest winner at The Basin joining the club. The young star having a strong season on the field for the Bears and is ready to challenge himself at the higher level.
“He’s had a really good pre season and I’m looking forward to see what he wants to do with he’s footy this season," Ayres said.
Brayden LaPlanche from Rowville and Harvey Chinn from Boronia have also signed this season at Montrose.
The club will also welcome back Michael Schwab to the field, who returns from an ACL injury, adding some extra experience and class to the line-up.
Ayres expectations for Montrose this season are to win enough games to qualify for another finals series and to find some consistency from week to week to be successful this year.
Last year's Division One saw one of the more even top five's in the league with all five finalists trading wins across the season.
Ayres is expecting that the competition will continue to be just as even with the importance on a consistent brand of football.
“The division is so tight and if your off for five minutes, you will get rolled over by your opposition, it all comes down to momentum,” Ayres said.
Montrose opens their 2025 season against Bayswater at Montrose Recreation Reserve this Saturday, the 5th of April.
After a massive 2025 season, Montrose Senior Women’s are looking forward to another great year in Division Two.
Last year, the side made their first finals series as well as first Grand Final appearance. The Demons defeated both Berwick and Waverley Blues in the 2024 Division Two finals, before a competitive performance against an undefeated Surrey Park outfit in the Grand Final.
Shilette Baker will be in charge again for her fourth season as senior coach.
"It’s being a long pre season which started in November, we've had consistent numbers and training standards have lifted as well," Baker said.
The key learnings that Shilette has implemented from the Grand final loss “is to never give up, and to bring the heat for four quarters”.
Bakers expectations are to continue developing the connections on and off the field and keeping the consistency across the season.
"Firstly win a game that’s priority number one, then be as consistent as we can be, gelling as a team which we have done well since joining the Women's program and also connecting to reach where we want to go this season."
A couple key players from Shilette Baker’s team have had some big pre seasons.
Chloe Jones who finished inside the top five in last year's best and fairest has had a big pre season.
"Really stepped up her training, and she will be a really key player as well.”
Hannah Lawson and the Eslick sisters have also had great pre-seasons. Baker also noting some father-daughters that will also be a part of the Montrose Senior Women's program.
The club is also excited to continue their Girls Day Out initiative which has been a great success thus far. They'll host Blackburn on Sunday, May 18th with further information on the day to be revealed shortly.
Montrose Women's open their campaign against Kilsyth at Montrose Recreation Reserve on Saturday, April 12th.