Sport
8 April, 2026
Bombers at home for round one
THE 2026 Hampden Football Netball League competition kicks off round one this Saturday, with Cobden hosting South Warrnambool at the Cobden Community Bank Recreation Reserve.
The youthful Bombers senior football team will be bolstered by the return of playing coach Brody Mahony, who missed virtually all of last season with injury, while Jia Anderson and Jack Hutt return from stints at Panmure.
Young gun Archie Taylor could be available depending on his commitments with VFL team Werribee.
Players to depart Cobden this year include Grady Rooke, who is coaching Simpson, big man Alfie Armstrong, who has headed to Tatyoon, Louis Robertson, who has joined Nirranda, and 2025 best and fairest winner Sam Lucas who joins Ballarat Football League outfit East Point.
South Warrnambool, who finished third in 2025, will provide a tough first up test for Cobden who are looking to improve on last season’s ninth placed finish.
Jack Hutt takes the reins as reserves coach after serving as senior assistant at Panmure, with Luke Hickey his assistant.
Danny Brennan is under 18 coach, Brad Couch will coach the under 16s, Chris Walsh is in charge of the under 14 team, Simon Murfett the under 12s with the under 10s coached by Chris Mahony.
The Bombers open netball team will still have Nadine McNamara in charge, joined as co-coach by Sophie Hinkley.
McNamara is set to return to playing action after maternity leave, with Hinkley to coach only (as she takes maternity leave).
Key player Emily Finch makes her return to the Cobden line-up, though the Bombers have lost Molly Hutt to Port Fairy and Lara Taylor to South Barwon.
The clash against South Warrnambool will be one of the open netball’s matches of the round, with the Bombers finishing fourth last season and the Roosters third.
Read More: Cobden