FINA World All Star Zoe Arancini is hoping to carry her stellar international form onto the domestic stage as she prepares to take on Drummoyne with the Fremantle Marlins at the Bicton Pools in the national water polo league.
Arancini recently returned from the Stingers’ month long tour of Europe, Brazil and USA where the Stingers won gold in Rio against the top ranked US side.
“It was a step in the right direction for us (the Stingers) and highlighted for us exactly what we need to do go get the win over the tough nations.
“For me, after narrowly missing the team selected for London it made me even hungrier – so I’m very focused on working on fitness and my skills work,” she said.
Arancini’s immediate attention will now sharpen on the domestic scene, where she will form part of a formidable Fremantle Marlins line-up, which is considered one of the title favourites for the 2015/16 NWPL.
The Marlins’ squad includes a host of Aussie Stingers squad members with Arancini joined by fellow WAIS scholarship athletes; Gemma Beadsworth, Glencora McGhie and Lilian Hedges.
“Being back for the start of the National League is different for me as I’m usually overseas,” Arancini explained. “The season normally starts in February but being an Olympic year it’s started this side of Christmas. You can see some teams are still working on fitness, their combinations, their tactics as a team.
Despite the Marlins’ strength, Arancini is anticipating a tough battle with the Sydney outfit.
“Drummoyne have a few different players in their team this year but we’re expecting a very physical game,” she said.
Bicton will also see the Fremantle Mariners in action against Drummoyne, with Round three the last round for the men’s competition prior to Christmas, with next weekend seeing the Aussie Men’s Sharks taking on Italy in a three test match series.
-WaterPoloAus
