Former St Kilda player Jake Carlisle will helm Moama’s senior football side in 2026 alongside former premiership-winning coach Shannon Keam. Photo: AAP.
The bodies of the 2025 Goulburn Valley League and Murray Football League seasons aren’t even cold yet, and already Echuca and Moama have announced who will be taking the reins in 2026.
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Echuca’s long-time coach Simon Maddox will return to lead the senior men in green once again next season, with his co-coach Leo Tenace bowing out.
In his place, the Murray Bombers have elected Angus Byrne to be Maddox’s running mate — returning to his home club after a short stint in Noosa, Queensland.
Byrne is a premiership player for Echuca, with multiple family members heavily involved with the club.
In the MFL, both of Moama’s 2025 senior coaches, Jye Warren and Liam Barrett, have elected to step down.
Barrett held the top job for two seasons and has elected to return to Bendigo and rejoin Golden Square.
Echuca premiership player Angus Byrne is returning to lead the side alongside Simon Maddox in 2026. Photo: File.
Meanwhile, Warren, who has been a driving force for Moama for some time, has decided to take a break from coaching, with his playing future with the Magpies still undecided.
In their places, Moama has swung for the fences, bringing the Magpies’ most recent premiership-winning (2010) coach Shannon Keam from Leitchville-Gunbower into the fray.
Not only that, Moama has elected to pair 151-game AFL veteran Jake Carlisle with Keam.
Carlisle was taken with pick 24 in the 2009 national draft and spent his career with Essendon and St Kilda before retiring in 2021.
He joins the Magpies for the 2026 season and beyond from Wallan Football Netball Club after recently moving to Moama full-time.
Tongala has announced 300-plus-game Blues veteran Jordan Souter will be the club’s senior coach for 2026.
Souter has coached the Blues previously and will receive guidance from outgoing coach Stephen Hammond, who will still be involved with the senior program.
While Scott Beattie will be departing Echuca United as coach in 2026, the Eagles have yet to name his replacement.
