Sport
29 March, 2022
Young Bombers ready for the next step
COBDEN senior coach Dan Casey has seen many positives from his new charges through the preseason but knows the Bombers will undergo a difficult first test when they host South Warrnambool in the first round of the Hampden Football League 2022 season.
COBDEN senior coach Dan Casey has seen many positives from his new charges through the preseason but knows the Bombers will undergo a difficult first test when they host South Warrnambool in the first round of the Hampden Football League 2022 season.
Cobden’s recent record against the Roosters has been less than stellar, losing six of its eight match-ups since 2016, and though last season was incomplete the difference between the two sides was stark.
South finished third in 2021 with a 10-2 record, while the Bombers languished in ninth with just three wins from 12 games.
But far from being daunted by his side’s round one fixture, Casey said he was relishing the opportunity to see what his young squad was capable of.
“It’s always exciting to start round one, especially after the last couple of years that everyone’s had, and we’re all excited to start off against quality opponents and see how far we’ve come in the preseason,”he said.
“We’ve got a really young list, so we’ve been trying to teach them how to respond when things don’t go our way.
“As a group, they’ve been responding really well to that.”
When he took the job back in November Casey made special mention of the young, untapped talent at the club, and after months of training over the summer he hasn’t been disappointed.
“We’re really looking forward to seeing some of the young guys that have had really big preseasons get out there,” Casey said.
“Players like Brady Rook, he’s had a really good preseason, and Henry Robertson, he’s been picked in the Rebels squad, he’ll play a lot of seniors footy.
“Also Josh Worboys has come back to the club, he’s down in the backline, he’s been fantastic. Same as Luke Smith, Louie Darcy, Harrsion Herschell, we’re really looking forward to seeing howthey go.”
The Bombers have played a number of practice matches in the past few weeks, including back-to-back scratch matches against Camperdown and Colac Imperials, a game against Allansford, and a session against Alvie last Thursday night.
Casey said he was impressed with the application of the squad throughout the preseason games, particularly how they had taken on board what they had been working on.
“The boys have played really well against quality opposition, particularly against Alvie, who were the dominant side in the Colac District League,” he said.
“It’s pleasing as a coach to see the things that we’ve been practising implemented, and how they got involved under a bit of pressure.”
Saturday will give the Bombers a chance to show just how well they can apply the lessons they have learned over the summer.