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NEW South Bendigo mentor Jannelle Hobbs admits it will feel a little strange coaching against Kangaroo Flat when the two clubs meet for the first time next season.
Hobbs, who coached the Roos to premierships in 2014 and ’16, has taken on the newly created role of director of coaching at South Bendigo.
She said despite the move, she would always remember her time at Kangaroo Flat and the friendships forged with fondness.
“It will be hard (coaching against them), I still have a lot of friends there,” she said.
“But I’m here to do a job and I’m focused on that now.
“I’m already working here at South and we have a netball coaches meeting this Thursday night to plan for our tryouts.”
Hobbs leaves Dower Park having guided Kangaroo Flat to three grand finals in her six seasons at the helm, after crossing from Loddon Valley league club YCW (now Maiden Gully YCW).
The Roos finished this season in fourth place, following a win over Eaglehawk in the elimination final and a loss to Gisborne in the first semi-final.
Hobbs, who will also coach the Bloods A-grade team, said she would always look back on her time at Kangaroo Flat with pride.
“I had a great six years at Flat, lots of success and good memories,” she said.
“I coached some fantastic players and I’ll have some life-long friendships there.
“It’s nothing against Kangaroo Flat my leaving, but I think those players need to hear a new voice as well.
“For both us it was time for a change. I was probably not going to coach another BFNL club, but when I saw South and the direction they wanted to go in it really fitted in with my philosophy.”
Hobbs said she now looked forward to the challenge of leading a Bloods team on the rise further up the ladder and into finals contention.
“BFNL is so tough and close. They finished seventh but had a really good season,” she said.
“Like every other club they want to make that top five.
“There’s a lot of hard work that has to come, but I know the South girls are really crying out for that success and they are keen to work hard to get it.”