FRESH off his side’s first win of season 2022, Cobden coach Dan Casey wants his young group to build its confidence and back itself as it chases a second victory.
The Bombers are set to host Port Fairy in the Hampden League Live Match of the Day at Cobden Community Bank Reserve this Saturday and the first year Bombers mentor has already been pleasantly surprised by how good his side can be when it plays to its strengths.
“During the pre-season we just let them go and train and saw what we needed to work on before putting our spin on it,” Casey said.
“One thing we noticed is they just weren’t confident enough in pulling the trigger.
“They’ve got so many strengths and if we keep trying to curb that and not let them play to their strengths, they lose their confidence really quickly.
“We’ve been pumping (it in to them), if you back yourself to kick a goal from 40 (metres), you go for it, you just back yourself and try hit those kicks and things like that.
“No one is going to yell at them or anything and what we’ve found is that more numbers are coming to training (because) it’s a great place to be around.
“Everything so far has been great.”
Casey has also been impressed by his group’s willingness to improve and absorb information as it seeks to better its ninth place finish last season.
“They just listen,” Casey said.
“That’s probably the main thing. They’re going to stuff up every now and then but when you talk them through it and show them where we’ve got to improve, they love it.
“It’s an exciting time there.”
The Bombers opponent, Port Fairy, is still yet to register a win and while set to face a tough task, Seagulls utility Matt Sully believes his side’s best is just around the corner.
“We started okay against North (Warrnambool) and we all know the result but it’s been positive signs to start (the season) with,” he said.
“But having such a young and inexperienced side, teams are just running over the top of us.
“There was a lot of positives to come out of South (Warrnambool match) last weekend even though we lost by 80 points but the more that we play and train together as a side (it’ll start to click).
“The development over the first three weeks has been really positive and I can only see that getting better.”
The match will be Sully’s first for the season, and he expects the contest to be a great test for his club’s youthful list.
“It’ll be exciting to play against Cobden, another young side,” he said.
“We’ll be able to go out there and not have our kids worry about getting hammered by the bigger boys.
“In saying that though, Cobden, ever since the under 12s, have been physical and tough and it’s always a good game over there, they always get a good crowd.
“I’m really excited to play with some of the young fellas, I’m looking forward to it.”
In the other matches, Portland hosts Camperdown in a Super Saturday at Hanlon Park and North Warrnambool welcomes Hamilton Kangaroos to Bushfield Recreation Reserve, with Koroit and South Warrnambool set to enjoy a week’s break after the pair’s match was played on Good Friday earlier this month.