Sport
24 September, 2025
League honours for Cobden star
STAR Cobden netballer Sophie Hinkley took out Hampden netball’s top honour on Sunday with a runaway win in the Open best and fairest award.
Hinkley polled 29 votes, with South Warrnambool’s Emma Buwalda second on 20 votes and Camperdown’s Piper Stephens and Koroit’s Shelby O'Sullivan equal third on 19 votes.
It’s the second time the 34 year-old has taken out the award, previously winning in 2018.
“It was a bit of a surprise, I thought I’d poll some votes through the middle of the year, apart from that you never really know,” Hinkley said.
“I had a consistent year, and it was different not coaching and just being able to concentrate on my game.”
Hinkley coached the Bombers from 2020 to 2024 and attributed the role to expanding her game.
“In 2018 (when she previously won the award) I played in the centre and was younger and relied on athleticism, now after a couple of years coaching there’s a bit more strategy and creativity in my game.”
The 2025 season was Hinkley’s first full season since 2018 due to a combination of having three children, COVID interruptions and injury.
“I’m proud of the effort to get back and it’s been exciting to share that with my kids,” she said.
Cobden’s Open netball team finished fourth after bowing out in the semi-finals.
“Based on the expectations we’ve set ourselves, fourth is a disappointment, though the competition has improved.
“Our club has had a successful year with our division one netballers making it through (to the grand final), our depth is really impressive.”
With a host of young children around the Open netball group, Hinkley added that it had very much become a family atmosphere at Bomberland.
“Six of us came back this year after having kids and we have 13 kids between us in the Open team.
“There’s a real legacy of being role models and showing how important community sport is.”
Looking ahead, Hinkley will continue to juggle family and netball commitments.
“Family comes first but netball will always be a priority.
“It’s been nice to have a break away from coaching and just be part of the group as a player, but I’ll no doubt get back involved at coaching at a junior or senior level at some stage.”
Hinkley and Bomber defender Remeney McCann were also named in the Hampden League netball team of the year.
In the football awards on Sunday, first year forward Matty Drayton was named in Hampden’s football team of the year, while Luke Smith won the football rising star award.
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