Leah Sinnott has been appointed to take over from her long-time teammate Tracey Baker, who stepped down after two years in the role at the end of the 2014 season.

Sinnott, who has twice previously coached the Hampden Football Netball League club in a career spanning more than 300 games, said she was excited about returning to the position.

But she intends taking a different approach to when she last coached in 2010.

“I said when I was talking about coaching that we have focused fairly heavily on trying to get a flag the last five years and I would like to bring the focus back to getting two sides in finals (A grade and A1),” she said.

“I also want to bring our juniors through the ranks and give them experience to cope with playing in senior finals.”

Sinnott said finals netball was her goal.

“I just want to bring the peg back a little bit, have fun, not that it wasn’t, but we’ll just set it at finals and see.”

Sinnott is in charge of both the club’s A and A1 sides. Her playing future has been clouded by injuries.

“I hope to play,” she said. Back and calf injuries ruined the defender’s 2014 season. But an extensive physio program has allowed her to slowly return to exercise.

“I will have to take it as it comes,” she said. “If I do play it will be coming up through the grades.”

Sinnott said the club was in a good position. While the Magpies hadn’t expected to blood a lot of teenagers this year, injuries and unavailability saw them dip into their premiership-winning 17 and under talent pool.

She said the girls had improved significantly by the end of the season, having been exposed to the elite grade.

“It sets the kids in good stead and the club in good stead,” she said.

Sinnott’s appointment means all but South Warrnambool and Warrnambool have A grade coaches locked in for next season.