Coach to add some polish

By Marc McGowan
NEW Devon Meadows Netball Club coach Mandy Hopkins is set to make a big splash at last year’s bottom squad as she sets about repairing the club’s playing stocks.
On top of a distinguished 31-year playing career, Hopkins has been in the coaching game for two decades and knows plenty about the sport at both state and regional level.
She has also had previous experience coaching in the MPNFL Casey Cardinia Netball League after guiding Catani during the 1990s.
Hopkins’ latest test will be her toughest yet as she prepares to enter the year with a team that failed to win a match last season.
“I want to get some skill and teamwork into the club. They don’t seem to have a lot of skill and I hope to get them off the bottom of the ladder,” she said.
“I was a bit dubious going down first-off after the interview. I thought maybe this sounds like too much of a challenge, but when I got there the girls were quite naturally able but don’t have polish.”
It is this polish that Hopkins hopes to provide as well as developing the social aspect of the side to boost team bonding and chemistry.
“We have to build the friendship and the teamsmanship,” she said.
“I like everyone to be part of the team. If you can get everyone trusting each other, it will be a lot easier.”
Hopkins expects the usual suspects to be strong again, with the likes of Pakenham, Rythdale-Officer-Cardinia and Beaconsfield to fight out the title.
“I know the quality of those teams. Those teams are always strong,” she said.
“They have plenty to choose from, whereas at Devon Meadows there is not a very strong choice of player.
“If there can be some development and hopefully a knowledge of what I’m trying to implement, we may have a bigger selection of girls to choose from next year.”