Echuca Moama’s secret to producing the likes of Harley Reid, Todd Murphy and Ollie Wines

It may be just a small border town but in recent years it has been home to Test cricketers, Brownlow medallists and number one draft picks. Maybe there is something in the water there.

Todd Murphy is one of a few talented sports people to come from Echuca Moama. Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images

When you speak to people prominent in the Echuca-Moama sporting scene one word stands out about why it has been home to so many talented sports people in recent years.

Community.

Specifically, how the two towns embrace each other to do well.

Echuca and Moama, despite having a combined population of fewer than 25,000, is batting above its average in the Australian sporting landscape.

It’s production line of sports stars is something to behold.

It includes Test cricketer Todd Murphy, who is one of Australia’s best spin prospect for the next decade and Col Pearse, who is one of Australia’s best paralympic swimmers.

Then you have AFL talent including Brownlow Medallist Ollie Wines, Jack Viney, Clayton Oliver, Ned Long and Brodie Kemp.

Former number one draft pick Harley Reid went to school in Echuca. Photo by Phil Hillyard.

The next generation is also impressive as it includes number one draft pick Harley Reid (who studied at Echuca but is from nearby Tongala), Cody Walker (the son of Carlton player Andrew Walker) and Jobe Shanahan who was drafted to West Coast last year.

Most of the AFL talent has come through the Echuca Bombers - the winners of the past three Goulburn Valley premierships.

Murray Bombers coach Simon Maddox revealed the region’s geography and its culture played a major factor in the success.

“It’s that country Victorian environment where sport is at the forefront of your mind,” he said.

“We’re on the river, so it creates an environment of fun and loving of sport.

“Everyone is either playing footy, tennis, cricket or sailing.”

Maddox added there had been a noticeable shift in the past 10-15 years in the region’s community support.

Those who go off and have successful sporting careers are now coming back to teach the next generation.

Andrew Walker and Sam Reid are two who have done that for Echuca.

“We don’t try to cut anyone down because they are doing well and we are jealous of them,” he said.

“We’re a proud town.

“We throw our support behind whoever is doing well.”

Moama president Scott Slater said being the closest town to Melbourne on the Murray River helped.

But he said it goes deeper than that.

“I put it down to amazing talent pathway coaches, across netball and football,” he said.

“We are heavily involved with Bendigo Pioneers to maximise our input into them.

“It comes down to good people looking after good kids and showing the pathway is available if they want to take it.”

About 15 per cent of this year’s Bendigo Pioneers squad comes from Echuca Moama. Many attend St Joseph’s College with the school becoming the hub for sporting talent.

The framed 2023 poster of St Joseph's College's success at the School Sport Victoria state titles. Harley Reid is top left. Picture: Shane Jones.

It’s football program has won the Herald Sun Cup and School Sport Victoria state titles in recent years.

The last success, in 2023, featured Reid and Shanahan and four others who now play in the VFL.

St Joseph’s College head of sport Justin Cantwell said the whole system worked together to gain results with students not just coming from Echuca Moama but nearby towns including Tongala, Lockington, Bamawm and Kyabram.

“We’ve got all these amazing clubs feeding into our schools,” he said

“The strength has to be in the community link.

“In the community there are so many great junior coaches and junior programs.

“They work together quite well.”

The school also has buy in from students with more than 200 applying for football teams at the start of the season.

“The love of football in Echuca Moama is so strong,” Cantwell said.

“We have so many kids who want to participate.”

And the school is not resting on its laurels with an MCG-sized football field and soccer pitches being installed for use later this year. It has also started its own sports academy.

It’s all about ensuring the twin towns can continue to produce the next Todd Murphy, Harley Reid or Ollie Wines for years to come.

Originally published as Echuca Moama’s secret to producing the likes of Harley Reid, Todd Murphy and Ollie Wines