Blues Out to Make Early CMFL Statement

Gus van Hart

Murrabit enters its first Central Murray Football League season against a familiar foe, with a chance to make a statement against Moulamein on Saturday.

The Blues’ opener was more than just round one. It was the club’s first hit-out in a new league and an immediate gauge of how Murrabit stacked up after an active off-season on and off the field.

Senior coach Jack Shannahan said the message across pre-season had been simple, with the focus on fitness, structure and controllables rather than the occasion.

“We haven’t tried to complicate it too much,” Shannahan said.

“Pretty much the whole pre-season, we were just working on what we can control in terms of getting fit, working on our game plan and those sorts of things.

“It’s only really been the last week, and then obviously this week, that we’ve started to focus on Moulamein and Moulamein only.”

There was extra feeling around the clash after Moulamein knocked Murrabit out in last season’s Golden Rivers Football League elimination final.

Shannahan said there was “a little bit of revenge there for us if we can get the job done” but said the bigger focus had been on starting well in unfamiliar surroundings.

He said the move to Central Murray had sharpened the club’s focus across football, juniors and netball, and pushed Murrabit to make sure it was ready on and off the field.

“It’s been a good thing. It’s been a refreshing change,” he said.

“The club’s ready. For us as a footy team, it just meant trying to build our list a little bit better.”

That new-look list will get its first real test straight away, with Shannahan keen to see how recruits Ben Kamaric and Wade Minter handle the midfield battle.

“The two main ones I’m looking forward to are Ben Kamaric and Wade Minter, who will probably start in the midfield and generate a lot of play in there,” he said.

“As soon as that ball is bounced on Saturday, I’m keen to see how those two guys attack it. I think they’re going to be massive for us.”

Murrabit was also expecting more growth from within, with Shannahan pointing to teenager Sam Copeland after two encouraging seasons in senior football.

Off the field, the coaching group had also been strengthened by the arrival of Rick Ladson, the former Hawthorn player and premiership coach at Bridgewater and Golden Square.

Shannahan said Ladson had already made an impression and would be a major asset on game day.

Looking ahead to the opener, Shannahan said Murrabit wanted to quickly earn respect across the competition.

“I’m hoping they’re saying that we look like a hard team to play against,” he said.

Murrabit travels to Moulamein on Saturday for a 2.30pm start to its 2026 campaign.