SFNL: How Skye plans to ‘build back’ after its impending relegation from Division 2

Skye has locked in coach Paddy Cooke as its sole coach next year and he is already working on a “complete reset” he hopes will have the club bouncing back.

Noah Alexander Williams kicks long for Skye. Picture: Andrew Batsch

Skye will undergo a “complete reset” in 2025.

The Bombers appointed Paddy Cooke as its next sole coach after sharing the role with Ben Walker this year.

Recognising its trajectory, Skye has averaged 14 players under the age of 22 each week and “stripped back” its game plan to accommodate its younger personnel.

And according to Cooke, Skye is going to use the demotion as a starting point to alter its direction.

“Obviously we are getting relegated and we have been aware of that for a while,” he said.

“It’s not what we were planning, we were hoping to stay in Division 2 but it’s not the end of the world.

“We think it actually works in our favour, it won’t be easy because I think Division 3 will be quite difficult next year but it’ll be a little easier than Div 2.

“Hopefully we can be super competitive and build back into Div 2.”

Jason Ward. Picture: Andrew Batsch

Cooke thinks a reset will bring back past players and help accelerate on-field results.

“We’ve got to have a complete reset,” he said.

“With difficult times, it hasn’t gone to plan and it’s been difficult keeping people around.

“We want to build to getting people around the place, enjoying being there and getting success off the back of people being around.

“Creating buy-in is a difficult thing so it has to be enjoyable, give them something that they can see is working.

“This year we’ve been able to see clear improvement, it’s been slow steps, but we can see light at the end of the tunnel.”

Cooke understands a rebuild isn’t a quick fix.

He hopes he is the Bombers’ next premiership coach but will start with the “building blocks”.

Jackson Chapman. Picture: Andrew Batsch

“I would love to put the club in a space to have the building blocks that it’s not a complete push back,” he said.

“Obviously it’s a step back this year but hopefully in the next few years it’s a step forward back into Div 2 and then progress from there.”

The Bombers are already on the lookout for new recruits.

It has appointed Stephen Hawkins, who played 11 games and kicked nine goals for Devon Meadows in 2023 , as Cooke’s playing assistant.

“He’ll be sitting up forward and he’s got a really smart head on his shoulders,” Cooke said.

“He’ll be really good for our young guys to give us some on-field direction and leadership, he’ll be massive.”

Skye and St Kilda City will be relegated from Division 2 this season after the insertion of Narre Warren into Division 1.