TEAM GIRLS
Collingwood Magpies’ Gabby Sinclair and the importance of role models
13 August 2020
Coming off the back of a stellar 2019 season with the Collingwood Magpies, netballer Gabby Sinclair is excited to finally be back on the court.
As we get stuck into the 2020 Suncorp Super Netball season – which kicked off on August 1 – Suncorp Team Girls sat down with Gabby to talk all things netball, motivation and how sport plays a role in girls’ confidence.
How is your team feeling about being back out on the court?
We’re all so excited. It’s been a very long pre-season and everyone has put in so much hard work over this period. It’s awesome to know that the season is going ahead, and we’re loving finally playing again.
How have you kept your fitness levels up while we’ve all been stuck at home?
Luckily, we were provided with some gym equipment from Collingwood and were able to continue some strength work throughout the break. We were also given conditioning programs, which incorporated both running as well as some cross training sessions. The team all kept in contact via Zoom, messages and phone calls which definitely helped us stay motivated and bond as a team.
How important do you think it is for our Team Girls to see professional players back out there giving it their all?
I think it’s so important for young netballers to see professional netballers back out on the court again. I believe having strong, female athlete role models keeps more girls in sport. It also shows them that they can reach their goals, not only in sport but in other aspects of their lives too – which is amazing!
What role do you think netball continues to play in building confidence and self-esteem in our Team Girls?
Netball provides opportunities to build leadership and communication skills through working as a team. This positively impacts self-esteem and confidence, enabling young women and girls to develop not only as netballers but people too. I think it’s great that netball is back on our TV screens. I believe it gives young athletes something to aspire to and have confidence to continue to work hard during such an uncertain year.
It must be a particularly challenging time for the Magpies players and their families. How are the team keeping motivated with their relocation to QLD for the Suncorp Super Netball season?
It’s been a challenging time for the players, support staff and our families back in Victoria. But I’ve been really proud of how adaptable we’ve been and how we’ve supported each other during this time. Despite the continued challenges we have faced so far, we’ve stayed focused on the season ahead. Although our families and Collingwood supporters can’t be with us, their continued support from back home keeps us motivated and striving for the best.
