Eastland 2026 Season Review | Montrose
By Christopher Kourtis.
A premiership and promotion for Montrose’s women’s team as three netball sides made their grand finals.
SENIOR MEN’S
Ladder position: 5th (11-7, 123.81%)
Best and Fairest: Ty Galbraith
Leading goal kicker: Bailey White (39 goals)
Montrose started the season at 1-3 before winning six of their next seven games.
The streak coincided with the signing of ex-AFL ruckman Oscar McInerney, giving the side a massive boost. The only loss during that run came to eventual premiers North Ringwood, by a single point.
The Demons got their revenge in Round 13, beating North Ringwood by thirteen points to prove that their best footy could contend with the best. They failed to do that consistently though, finishing the home-and-away season 2-6 against finals teams.
Montrose ground out a tough three-point win against Wantirna South in the Elimination Final before falling eight points short of Park Orchards the next week, ending their campaign.
Best win: Round 16 – Montrose 14.14-98 def. 13.7-85 North Ringwood @ Montrose Recreation Reserve
This Round 16 victory was proof that Montrose have what it takes to hang with the best.
The hosts were inaccurate early, only managing twelve points from seven scoring shots. That shored itself up quickly though, as they kicked 41 points in the second term to take a fifteen-point lead into the main break.
That was enough for the Demons to hold onto, winning by thirteen points.
Riley Collier-Dawkins was best on with 30 disposals and three goals, while Bailey White kicked a game-high four goals.
Key players:
Ty Galbraith was named club best and fairest, kicking 32 goals. Galbraith averaged seven score involvements a game, showing that he was more than capable of setting up a teammate if he wasn’t scoring himself.
Beau Tennant was named a Team of the Year full-back. Tennant was a stalwart in defence, averaging seven intercepts (three intercept marks) and seven rebound 50s a game.
Riley Hams made the Team of the Year interchange. Hams was effective on both sides of the ball, earning best-on votes in ten games.
Oscar McInerney only managed eight games for the season, but held league-high averages in hitouts, clearances and contested possessions.
What’s next?
Montrose need to top up their list to contend with the division’s best.
Former captain and best and fairest winner Ben Dessent returns from Wallan, as ex-VFL ruckman Ryley Monkhorst joins from Woori Yallock.
The Demons will need to keep their core together too, this side need to make sure they don’t lose many pieces.
SENIOR WOMEN’S
Ladder position: 1st (11-3, 390.87%)
Best and Fairest: Kiara Simons
Leading goal kicker: Katelyn Betts (31 goals)
A premiership, a minor premiership and a division best and fairest winner – Montrose’s senior women’s side completed the clean sweep in Division Two.
The Demons started off with a five-game win streak before losing to Blackburn in Round Six.
They flipped the script in the reverse fixture, beating Blackburn by 41 points to take momentum into the finals.
One of three teams to finish 11-3, Montrose finished on top through percentage. A semi-final win against Blackburn booked a spot in the Grand Final, where they beat Heathmont by 26 points to earn promotion into Division One.
Best win: Grand Final – Montrose 7.3-45 def. 3.1-19 Heathmont @ Mulgrave Reserve
Montrose built this Grand Final victory on their defence. They held Heathmont goalless through the second and third quarters, restricting them to just seven points at three-quarter-time.
Up by eighteen, Hannah Lawson kicked the first two goals of the final term to put one hand on the trophy. The Demons controlled the contest from there, winning by 26 points.
Hannah Lawson led all comers with three goals, while Zarley McGregor was awarded the Best on Ground medal.
Key players:
Kiara Simons was dominant in 2026. Taking home both the club and division Best and Fairest awards, Simons was named Team of the Year captain. The midfielder only missed out on best-on votes in two games all season.
Zarley McGregor polled ten goals and nine times in best this season, proving that Grand Final day was no fluke. McGregor was named on the wing in the Team of the Year.
Katelyn Betts led the side in goal kicking, booting 31 majors with an average of 2.6 a game. She was helped by Hannah Lawson, who kicked 26 (1.6/game) of her own. Both forwards made the Team of the Year.
Georgia Macpherson was the fifth member of this team to earn a Team of the Year berth. The half-back earned best-on votes in nine of sixteen games.
What’s next?
Not much needs to change for this side. Kiara Simons has re-signed, and the hope is that many of her teammates will follow suit.
If they can keep this side together, they’ll only need to add a few pieces to feel confident as they approach Division One.
NETBALL
Montrose Flames finished fourth in Division Three. They started off well, beating eventual premiers Kilsyth in Round One. This side were well-beaten in the finals though, losing the First Semi Final to The Basin by 21 goals. Brooke Junginger was best and fairest.
Montrose Demons picked up four wins to finish seventh in Division Four. A mid-table finish in a tight competition, Mia Motteram was best and fairest.
Montrose Thunder picked up seven wins in Division Six. They finished fourth through points percentage, earning a finals berth. They went on to lose that First Semi Final against Warrandyte, falling by eleven goals. Mel Layton was best and fairest.
Montrose Storm finished second in Division Ten. Picking up nine wins, they lost Semi Final 2 to Heathmont by thirteen goals before winning the Preliminary Final against Mooroolbark by twelve. They got agonisingly close to Heathmont in the Grand Final, but in the end, they lost by a single goal.
This side dominated the individual accolades. Megan Challis was the side’s Best and Fairest winner and was on the Team of the Year interchange. Pippa Nott was named Division Ten Best and Fairest and the Team of the Year goal-shooter. Crystal Morrissey also made the Team of the Year, listed in wing-defence.
Montrose Devils finished third in Division Eleven. Picking up ten wins in the regular season, they beat Wantirna South (Semi Final 1) and Upper Ferntree Gully (Preliminary Final) to book a Grand Final berth. It wasn’t to be on the day though, losing by twelve goals to Fairpark.
Rebecca Gorfine was named Division Eleven Best and Fairest and Team of the Year goal-attack, while Bec Jones took out the side’s Best and Fairest award.
Montrose Heat were one of three teams to finish with eleven wins, but were resigned to third place through win percentage. They beat East Ringwood and Vermont on the way to the Grand Final, where they beat Norwood by fourteen goals to secure the Division Thirteen premiership. Rhi McLachlan was best and fairest.
Montrose Raptors finished sixth in Division Fifteen. It was a mixed bag of results, picking up their two wins against Boronia and Mooroolbark, Emily Kelly was best and fairest.
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