The Revolution Room

Can We Talk About ACLs… and Why the Grief Might Be the Hardest Part?

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 08:32:37 +1000

ACL injuries are usually talked about in terms of surgery, rehab, strength and the long road back to the court. But what about everything you lose along the way? In this episode of The Revolution Room, Kobie and Amanda get personal about major injury — and the part of ACL recovery that doesn't always get talked about: the grief. They share their own experiences and unpack what happens when an athlete suddenly loses the thing that has been such a huge part of their identity. The training.
The games.
The teammates.
The routine.
The feeling of belonging.
The version of yourself that existed before the injury. They talk about watching everyone else move forward while you're stuck on the sidelines, disconnecting from the sport you love, avoiding games because watching hurts, and even questioning whether you'll ever feel the same way about netball again. Because sometimes the psychological injury can feel just as significant as the physical one. And perhaps one of the hardest parts? People can become accustomed to knowing only the injured version of you. This is a raw conversation about identity, loss, resentment, recovery and finding your way back — not just to the court, but to yourself. And for the athlete sitting at home right now, staring at a brace and wondering what comes next: You are still an athlete. Your story isn't over.

Recorded and produced at ⁠The Podcast Boss⁠ ⁠podcast studio in Brisbane

Child Safety in Netball

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 08:31:57 +1000

We hear the words child safety and most of us immediately think of one particular type of risk. But keeping children safe in sport is so much bigger than that. In this episode of The Revolution Room, Kobie and Amanda unpack what child safety actually looks like in netball — including physical, emotional, psychosocial and sexual safety, and the culture that exists around our young athletes. They ask a confronting question: Is a child really safe at sport just because the adults around them hold a Blue Card (or working with children check)? From disturbing examples we've seen across Australian sport to experiences closer to home, this conversation explores what can happen when policies aren't enforced, warning signs aren't acted on, and adults prioritise winning, selection or reputation over the wellbeing of children. They also talk about one of the hardest issues for parents to navigate: what happens when your child's selection or pathway depends on the very adult you may need to challenge? Kobie and Amanda unpack what a genuinely child-safe netball environment should look like — from strong policies and proper compliance to giving kids a voice, reporting concerns and, perhaps most importantly, having adults with the courage to actually act. Because children's participation and safety should come before premierships, selection, friendships, reputation and adult convenience. So the question is... "What are you willing to tolerate to keep your child in it?"

Recorded and produced at ⁠The Podcast Boss⁠ ⁠podcast studio in Brisbane

The Rise of the Sideline Parent

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 08:24:51 +1000

When did watching your kid play netball become a full-contact spectator sport? In this episode of The Revolution Room, Kobie and Amanda take a look at the changing role of the netball parent — from the parents they remember growing up with, to the increasingly loud, involved and sometimes over-involved parents we see on the sidelines today. They talk about sideline coaching, parents giving tactical instructions, publicly criticising other people's kids, challenging coaches, and the pressure that can come when a parent's enthusiasm starts becoming another source of stress for their own child. And then there's the car ride home... What do you say when you genuinely disagree with the coach? When do you speak up — and when do you simply need to remember that you're the parent, not the coach? Most importantly, Kobie and Amanda ask a bigger question: are we sometimes trying to live our own netball dreams through our kids? Because underneath all the banter, frustration and questionable sideline etiquette is something that matters far more: What will our kids actually remember about playing netball when they're adults? This is a conversation about parenting, perspective, boundaries and remembering who the game is really for. The kids.

Recorded and produced at ⁠The Podcast Boss⁠ ⁠podcast studio in Brisbane