Posted on 3 October, 2024

Mark Watkins is back to lead the Kilsyth Cobra Women for the 2025 NBL1 season.

Watkins looks to build on a promising 2024 campaign at the helm of the Women’s program, which saw the Cobras feature the South Conference’s youngest roster . Eight of the Watkins’ 12 rostered players were still age-eligible to play in the Cobras VYC program – an under 23 competition – and despite the significant youth movement, the Cobras proved they belonged against the league’s top end talent.

With 11 years as a head and assistant coach in the NBL and a pair of FIBA World Championship stints as head coach of the Under 17 Australian Men’s team – highlighted by a silver medal finish in 2014 – Watkins instilled a tough, never-say-die style of play into the Cobras in 2024, resulting in his young group playing above and beyond on many occasions.

The Cobras took the South Conference and National Champion winners – the Waverley Falcons – to double-overtime on the road, and the regular season champion Knox Raiders down to the final possession in both meetings this past season, while their spectacular late season road win over the heavily favoured Frankston Blues flashed signs of brilliance and optimism for what’s to come in 2025.

Placing a premium on player development highlighting the Kilsyth pathway – 75 percent of the roster progressed from the Junior Cobra program – the foundation Watkins has built over the last 12 months has the Cobras poised to make a big jump in 2025, and excite along the way.