Back in July, the veteran Mooroopna Recreation Reserve helmsman announced that he would be departing his post following eight seasons and over 100 senior games in charge.
While his attention is currently fixed firmly on ending his long tenure in the Goulburn Valley League on a high, the popular departing coach is convinced that the next man in the hot seat will prove to be a successful appointment.
Bringing extensive experience from the VFL following stints with Coburg, Casey Scorpions and Casey Demons, this is Carbis’ first role since coaching Outer East league club Pakenham back in 2024.
“Paul is an experienced coach and he’s been appointed early so we almost get a handover-type situation,” Lamont said.
“He was at our club on Saturday at the game and spoke at the after-match function and people are already able to connect with Paul.
“So we think we’ve got a really positive appointment and a really positive result for the club.”
As for the legacy he hopes to leave in Mooroopna, Lamont is hopeful that he will be viewed as somebody that provided a platform for local youngsters to develop on home soil.
“We had the brief when I came into the club to provide a strong footy environment for the Mooroopna locals and the kids coming through,” he said.
“Generally speaking, that is where we’re at, we’ve only got a couple of recruits in the team and it’s mostly made up of locals - the vast majority have come through Mooroopna AusKick.
“That is a real positive and they’re growing in stature.”
For now, the Cats are locked in a battle for a finals spot, with Mansfield and Echuca the final two games of the home-and-away campaign, as they hope to consolidate a qualification berth.
As it stands, just four points separates fifth-placed Mooroopna from Rochester in eighth, with Shepp United and the Swans also in with a chance of booking a finals ticket.
“We felt with the fixture (list) that the ball was always in our court,” Lamont said, as he looked ahead to two blockbuster clashes.
“The season has been remarkably even, which has been great, but you don’t want to get to this stage of the season and be relying on other results.”
“So, all credit to our boys for how they’ve approached this back half of the year, after round seven we were 3-5 and so they’ve really taken things on board and worked well together.”
As Lamont alludes, the Cats have rallied back from a mercurial start to 2026, stringing together six wins following that early-season slump to re-emerge as contenders for finals.
“Mansfield beat us convincingly last time up at their place in the second-half, so that’s one we want to get back and we’re looking forward to the contest,” he added.
“We’re playing good football and we’re in fifth in the minute and the ladder only matters after round 18 when that final siren sounds.
“The challenge is always there with these games, so we’ll prepare well and give it our best shot.”
One FM 98.5’s matchday broadcast on Saturday will be between Shepparton United and Echuca, live from Deakin Reserve at 1:30pm.
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