Arancini Wins Debbie Watson Medal as 2019 MVP

Australian Stingers representative Zoe Arancini has collected the Debbie Watson Medal for the Most Valuable Player of the 2019 Australian Water Polo League season.

Arancini received the accolade in addition to being named in the All Star team following the Marlins’ single-goal defeat at the hands of Queensland Thunder in the grand final played in Sydney.

The teams put on a thrilling final which eventually went the way of the Thunder via a 10-9 victory. Arancini was one of two Western Australians named in the All Star team, with Balmain based goal keeper Gen Longman also earning honours.

The MVP medal is named after legendary Australian water polo figure Debbie Watson, who starred for the Stingers as they claimed their maiden – and to date – only Olympic gold medal, back at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

In the men’s final, UNSW Wests Magpies edged Drummoyne Devils 9-7 after the Fremantle Mariners exacted revenge over Sydney Uni Lions in a postscript to last year’s grand final in this year’s third place play-off, which the Fremantle club won 16-7.

Retired international star Joel Swift was named in the All Star team as one of three WA representatives, joined by Nic Hughes (UWA Torpedoes) and Mariners teammate Luke Pavillard.

Attention will now shift to the international season, with both the Stingers and Sharks set to prepare for their respective World League Super Final campaigns, which will take place in Hungary in June.

This will be both sides’ final high-level tune-up ahead of the FINA World Championships in Korea in July.