Coaches Andy Ingold and Adam Hill have agreed to stay on and coach the Eagles for the 2026 season.
The Murrumbateman Eagles are poised to complete their dominant campaign this Saturday, with a Grand Final clash against a familiar foe, the Molonglo Juggernauts, at Phillip Oval. Having secured their spot with a commanding 11.8.74 – 5.6.36 win over the Juggernauts a week ago, the Eagles enjoyed a well-earned week off, their eyes keenly focused on Molonglo’s subsequent battle with the Southern Cats. Ultimately, it was the Juggernauts who clawed their way into the decider, outlasting the Cats in a tense 7.9.51 – 5.8.38 victory.
Despite the Eagles’ flawless record against Molonglo this season, the Juggernauts will be a bolstered unit, welcoming back several players who have split their time between reserve and first grade. Even in their last encounter, Molonglo showed significant improvement, trading blows with the Eagles through the first half before Murrumbateman’s class and relentless attack proved too much.
For the Eagles, the focus remains on a composed performance. “They usually change things around a bit for the grand final just to make it interesting,” said head coach Andy Ingold. “It’s a little bit earlier, so we’ll just prepare ourselves for that. They did give us a good run a couple of weeks ago, so we are confident, but the main message to the boys is: we are not done yet.”
The club’s momentum has been further lifted by the news that Ingold and his co-coach, Adam Hill, will remain at the helm for the 2026 season. “We decided to stay on and coach a few weeks ago,” Ingold confirmed. “It’s been really good, and especially doing it with Adam. He and I are good mates, and to be able to do that with him has been pretty special.”
The Eagles’ on-field success has been driven by a number of standout performers. Veteran Jon Leayr has been a stalwart for the club for years, while the electrifying Matthew Bell has consistently topped the goal-scoring charts. The arrival of newcomer Kasey Van Diemen has also injected a new level of dynamism, with his blistering form making him a name to watch. Much has been talked about the Eagles potentially moving up to a higher grade after making a mockery of the competition this year.
Ingold, however, is keeping his side grounded. “We’ll get through this weekend first,” he said, “and find out about that in the coming months.” He stressed the importance of staying motivated even when ahead. “It’s one thing to win comfortably, it’s another to keep the boys switched on,” Ingold said.
“That’s been one of our biggest things this year, just keeping them motivated to turn up each week and still run around and play and have fun.” With a few injury concerns looming, Ingold says the team will give every player until Thursday night to prove their fitness. The club has also made a proactive move to ensure continuity, securing the coaching staff before turning their attention to player retention. “We’re glad that we were able to commit again for next year, and now those conversations will start with the players,” Ingold concluded.
“Our number one priority at the moment is getting through this grand final. I’m hoping the majority of the group stays on.”
There have been plenty of highlights for the Eagles this season, such as their 171-point slaughtering of the Eastlake Demons, where Blake Collins was electric, collecting a bag of eight goals. Who could forget their 62-point win over Woden, funnily enough, one of their closest games of the season, where a Blake Hourn masterclass saw them control the footy with ease and strangle the game away from Woden. Get down to Phillip Oval and support the boys this Saturday from 11:15 am as the Eagles chase their piece of history.
– Tully Potts
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