Sport

Magpies retain Three Jacks Trophy with soaring victory over Eagles

By Oliver Shedden

Jun 8, 2025

Trent Gray looks to spoil Oliver Poole’s mark in the Three Jacks senior football clash. Moama would record a big win, its eighth consecutive in Murray Football League. Photo: Jordan Townrow

For the eighth consecutive meeting, Moama has kept two hands on the hallowed Three Jacks Trophy with a thumping win over arch-rival Echuca United in round nine of Murray Football League.

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Hosting the Eagles for the second Three Jacks clash of 2025, Moama jumped out to a narrow first quarter lead courtesy of Jye Warren kicking the only goal of the opening frame and holding the visitor to no score.

Echuca United hit back in the second period with a pair of goals and behinds, but it was the combined efforts of Moama’s Darchi Clarke, Blake Evans and Jack Harland that increased the host’s lead to 20 at the major break.

With the Eagles only able to add one behind to their tally in the third term, it meant the Magpies could keep going about their business and push their lead to 34.

The final frame turned into a party at Moama Recreation Reserve, as not only did Echuca United fail to increase its score, but the Magpies kicked away to completely blow out the contest.

Khy Stovell went nuclear down the stretch, nailing a bag of goals in the fourth quarter alone, while Lachlan Carmody collected a couple and Warren and Evans added to their tallies.

The 17.8 (110) to 2.3 (15) victory was a meaningful one for the Magpies, who not only retained a trophy that holds a special place in the club’s history, but also secured a valuable percentage-increasing victory to remain in second on the ladder.

Moama seniors coach Liam Barrett was thrilled with not just how his side played, but all the football grades played against Echuca United to retain the Three Jacks Trophy.

“Outside the last quarter, it was a really good contest, and we were just happy to keep building and run out the game well,” he said.

“We had some good passages of play and so did (Echuca) United, so it was a pretty reasonable contest, but just happy to finish as strongly as we did.

“We’ve been really pleased with how all the footy grades have been playing, the thirds are going really well currently and its the same in the reserves.

“There’s a great feel around the club currently and getting those wins against United is always great and hopefully that can continue for years to come.

Barrett also highlighted his standout players in round nine and looked ahead to a challenging stretch of football for Moama.

“I thought Jack Harland for us off half-back was influential and Zac Stovell took some nice marks and helped us set up from behind the play,” he said.

“I just thought it was a good all-round performance and I felt like everyone played their role and that’s what we are trying to build, we aren’t too worried about stats.

“We are happy where we are and we know we have a big month ahead of us, so although we are happy to be where we are situated, we’ve just got to take it week by week.”

Moama was also successful in the other football grades, with the reserves 17.12 (114) to 1.0 (6) winners, the under-17s prevailing 6.10 (46) to 4.4 (28) and the under-14s big winners 12.7 (79) to 0.2 (2).