After knocking on the door of a return to Murray Football League glory for years, Moama has gone all in with its senior leadership in a bid to return to the promised land.
The Magpies fell short in the preliminary final in both 2023 and 2024 before bowing out shockingly in the semi-final against eventual 2025 champions Cobram three weeks ago.
Being contenders for an extended period of time isn’t a bad thing, and the atmosphere at Moama Recreation Reserve has been a good one under the leadership of Sam Sheldon, Liam Barrett and Jye Warren in the past few seasons.
Yet, the club is itching for a return to the pinnacle of the Murray League — having spent 15 years without bringing home the big one — so it has swung for the fences with a new coaching duo for the 2026 campaign.
Former Essendon and St Kilda 151-game veteran Jake Carlisle will be one half of the brains behind the Magpies’ venture in 2026 and beyond.
There is, of course, a proven formula of former AFL talent coaching local clubs to glory — just look across the river to what former GWS Giant Sam Reid and Echuca achieved in 2023.
Co-leading the operation is Shannon Keam from Leitchville-Gunbower, who was the last and only coach to deliver Moama to an MFL premiership, back in 2010.
“It’s good (to be coming back). It’s going to be a lot more convenient for me having my kids play at Moama and living there, so it’s good,” he said.
“I’ve only met Jake (Carlisle) a few times, but from what the couple of discussions we’ve had and the talks we’ve had, he sounds like he’s really keen to help develop young players.
“Not only just individually, but in the game style as a holistic approach as well.
“You play 150 AFL games, I’m pretty sure he’s going to have something to offer the club and the group, so, definitely excited.”
Keam wasn’t shy about his desire to bring a trophy back to Moama upon his return, especially considering how close the Magpies have come recently.
He also highlighted the boost in participation and the growth of the Moama FNC family since he left.
“Every team, obviously, aims to win silverware each year,” he said.
“I don’t know if it’s a reflection of how hard it is winning grand finals ... I know that they’ve (Moama) been knocking on the door the last few years.
“They’ve just been unable to take that next step, so we’ll endeavour to do our best to try to get it done.
“There are a lot of familiar faces, many new faces, but, yeah, the club, especially since COVID, has really burst with numbers with both football and netball, so it’s exciting.
“Many things have changed, but hopefully, it’s onwards and upwards in regards to how the club goes about their stuff, and hopefully, we’ll aim to win silverware.”
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