Sport
29 August, 2023
Hinkley re-appointed to lead Bombers
COBDEN Football Netball Club has re-signed talented netballer Sophie Hinkley to lead the Bombers in season 2024.
COBDEN Football Netball Club has re-signed talented netballer Sophie Hinkley to lead the Bombers in season 2024.
Hinkley will continue in her role as Open coach for the fifth season.
In making the announcement yesterday, Bombers president James Green said the club was thrilled Hinkley would again lead from the front.
“Sophie has shown an unwavering commitment to excellence and professional; having returned to the club in 2020 in her first individual Open coaching role,” Green said.
“Her playing experience and exposure in GFL, VNL and national championship competitions is evident in her knowledge and the standard she drives for herself and our playing groups.”
Green added that Sophie was self-reflective and demonstrated great preparation and perseverance to improve the Bomber’s team and individual skills and their performance mindset.
“Her attention to detail and ability to analyse, adapt and progress team strategies is unmatched,” Green said.
“Not only does Sophie perform in netball but also at committee level, managing our media arm with exceptional results.”
To date, the influence of her leadership has been transformational for the club’s programs.
“We anticipate 2024 will be another year of growth and progression under Sophie’s leadership,” Green said.
Speaking to the Cobden Timboon Coast Times yesterday, Hinkley said she was excited for the coming year but there was “still plenty to do” with finals underway this weekend.
The Bombers’ Open side finished second on the Hampden League ladder behind South Warrnambool and will face Koroit in this Saturday’s qualifying final at Camperdown.
The club’s division one and 17 and under reserves teams both finished on top of their respective ladders while the 17 and unders also snuck into the top five.
“To have our top two senior sides finish in the top two of their respective divisions is something to be really proud of,” Hinkley said.
“On reflection, this season we all had a different mindset (following earlier years of Covid-interruptions) of really just enjoying the process of playing and representing the Bombers.
“Last year was the first finals campaign I actually coached so it felt like this season was the first chance to really settle and consolidate on what we’ve been doing in the immediate past.”
Hinkley said the netballers had been enjoying each other’s company and focussing on bettering themselves both as a team and as individuals – “and hopefully that breads team success.”
“Regardless of the results to come, we’ve been really happy with our season so far,” she said.
“Since 2016 we’ve consistently had an Open side in finals and that’s something any club would be really proud of.”
Hinkley said the Bombers were looking forward to this weekend’s clash with Koroit.
The two clubs met in rounds one and 10, with wins to the Bombers on both occasions, but they would not underestimate the Saints.
“It’s been a while since we last met and we’ve had lots of changes to our side since then. We now have our full squad to select from but Koroit is always a formidable opponent who are great finals contenders so we’ve expecting a really great contest on the weekend.”