This week will be a chance for Australia’s best emerging female talent to play hard, but also enjoy high quality water polo at the girl’s 16 and Under National Club championships at HBF Stadium, Perth, according to Aussie Stingers player and WAIS athlete Zoe Arancini.
Like the boy’s event in Hobart, there is a record 30 teams from around the country meeting for six days of intense competition, which will take place from September 29 through to the finals on Sunday October 4.
Arancini, who is eyeing off a chance to play at her first Olympic Games in Rio next year, said that her time playing at the 16 and Under National Championships was a fun part of her career, despite the serious nature of the competition.
“The 16 and under tournament is an important step in being recognised by both the senior and junior coaches, but it’s also a chance to meet other teams, coaches and players, it’s a lot of fun, at least I found it to be that way,” Arancini said.
“Although it is stressful at times, it’s generally a good environment at the age events where everyone congratulates each others performance and you can enjoy your time away.
“While it is fun, you also need to be mindful to always be giving 100 per cent and try your hardest in putting your team before yourself, that includes showing respect to everyone from your teammates to your coach and supporters.”
Rewind 12 months and it was a history making victory for the UNSW Wests club with their ‘yellow’ team claiming the first age national title for the club in 43 years, defeating Queensland’s ‘All Hallows’ 5-3 in a come from behind victory. Both teams will be back again this year in the hope of again reaching the gold medal decider.
While aspirations will be high for last year’s finalists, spare a thought for the Croa Sharks who won the title in 2013, before being beaten to bronze by Ovens & Murray last year. With a fresh start in Perth this week, expect the two entries from the Croa to be in fine form, as will last year’s border town bronze medallists.
NSW will have the largest contingent of teams 12 entered in the tournament, Queensland and hosts Western Australia will both field six teams, Victoria will have three, while the ACT, South Australia and Tasmania will all have a single victory.
For the typically strong Western Australia, their top teams will be hoping for higher finishes than the seventh (City Beach Bears) and eighth (Melville Sharks) achieved in 2014, especially at a home event, although the standard of competition will no doubt again equal or better that seen at the last running of the championships.
Although touching on it earlier, Arancini reiterated the importance of showing respect to everyone involved at the championships, saying that Water Polo Australia’s new Think. Act. Play program would be crucial to adding to the enjoyment of the six days of competition for all involved.
“Respect is a huge value to have in water polo and Think. Act. Play is a big step forward in upholding that expectation,” she said.
“Win, lose or draw, you always want to come out of the water respecting your opponent and respecting yourself. I think it’s a huge value and it maintains harmony within the water polo community.
“It’s also more fun when everyone has a good time and follows a few basic courtesies.”
-WaterPoloAus
