General News
22 October, 2021
Sinnott flies home as Magpies new leader
CAMPERDOWN has turned to one of its best netball products to lead its open netball side in season 2022.
CAMPERDOWN has turned to one of its best netball products to lead its open netball side in season 2022.
The Magpies announced this week that former player and coach Leah Sinnott would return to the club as open netball coach following Brooke Richardson’s decision to relinquish the role.
Sinnott returns to Leura Oval fresh off a three year stint at Warrnambool and District league club Timboon Demons.
The ex mid-courter admitted she had not previously considered coaching in 2022 but the chance to return to her home club and be around the likes of her former team-mates and friends including Tracey Baker, Emily Stephens and co was too good to refuse.
The prospect of developing the club’s juniors was also enticing to the Hampden league life member, who last featured at Camperdown in 2018.
“Initially it wasn’t something I hadn’t planned on doing. I thought once I was done with Timboon I’d have some time off for a while,” Sinnott said.
“But Tracey would throw in a little comment here and there and I’d brush it off but one of the main reasons that enticed me back was to reconnect with the players I’d played with and those people I’d been around with the netball scene for a long time.
“The prospect of helping some of the juniors through (was another reason) and I think having had some time away I’ve had the chance to reflect on some things and get a fresh outlook on coaching.
“I know when I was there prior I felt I had coached everyone there but I guess looking at the group now I haven’t coached most of them and if I have it was in a junior capacity so I feel that I have
something to bring back that I haven’t already imparted on them.”
Sinnott, who hit the court for the Demons at times last season, believes she comes back to her home club a more-rounded coach.
Having previously coached the Magpies, the stint at the Demons has opened her eyes to the way other clubs operate, which she hopes will have a positive impact upon her return.
“I think having different experiences certainly builds your capacity as a coach in many aspects whether it be the skill or game day aspect or dealing with a different group of people as well,” Sinnott said.
“I’ve certainly developed (that part of my coaching) by doing that (coaching elsewhere).
“Even having just different experiences with the way clubs do things and manage things, it gives you an appreciation of everything that has been done for you at certain times.
“I think that coming back I am able, as I have said, to give something that potentially I didn’t necessarily give before. Possibly I have that different experience to add (to the group).”
With season 2021 still only fresh in the books, Sinnott said she had not yet had the chance to fully grasp what players would be at the club next year.
But she is eager to build a well-rounded team of both established players and emerging juniors as the Magpies chase a finals return.
“I haven’t had the chance to fully sit down with the people I need to and go over exactly who’s about,” Sinnott said.
“But I do know there will be a couple of exits from this year’s team but the club has started developing juniors through the ranks as well.
“In terms of taking on the role, the people who were about, while great, wasn’t necessarily my main focus, it was on building that team sort of thing.
“I think what I’ve seen is there is some good junior kids coming through so what will be will be in terms of who is about and interest but hopefully I can work with everyone to bring it all together.”
Sinnott also said she was looking forward to reacquainting herself with the higher level of the Hampden league and to get back to a club she is familiar with.