Oberman to Lead SIS/SAS Tour
WAIS men’s water polo coach Paul Oberman is leading an Australian joint institute and academy team on a tour of Japan to compete against the Japanese National team as they prepare for the Asian Games.
The Australian team will be comprised of athletes who are members of state high performance institutes/academies, with the aim to provide further international experience for players earmarked as potential Olympians.
Separate to Oberman’s appointment, four of his WAIS charges have been selected in the tour party, with brothers George and Andrew Ford joined by goal keeper Edward Slade and Luke Pavillard.
Oberman said the tour was about building a strong foundation for future years.
“This is a very exciting joint SIS/SAS (State Institute of Sport/State Academy of Sport) squad, with the likelihood many of the athletes becoming Olympians in either this cycle (2016) or the next (2020),” he said.
“The tour to Japan gives further international experience for some current national team members and those on the cusp of the national squad.
Among those selected are brothers George and Andrew Ford, with the West Australian brothers having recently returned from overseas ventures.
George helped the Aussie Sharks to a fifth place at the FINA World Cup, while Andrew toured with the Australian Born ’95 Junior team in Europe, where he took part in the Stuttgart and Tornoi Invitational competitions.
Other young players including Daniel Egan, Luke Pavillard, Tyler Sinclair and Gabriel Addley will also benefit from touring with teammates that have recent experience on the senior national team, including Blake Edwards, Jarrod Gilchrist, Nathan Power, Matt Gronow, Mitch Emery and Paul Sindone.
Edwards, Gilchrist and Power were all part of the World Cup team, while Gronow, Emery and Sindone toured with the Sharks squad to Montenegro for pre world cup training.
Similarly goalkeeper Edward Slade was a member of the Sharks training camp at the AIS in Canberra, however after being omitted from the World Cup squad, he will use this tour as an opportunity to show his talent between the posts.
Oberman believes the tour is also a great chance to integrate some new players into the style of game played by the senior national team.
“It will be great training with the Japanese as they are in final preparations for the Asian Games,” he said.
“We will be implementing the same defensive and attacking structures as what the National Team plays, so the transition and education for the new athletes is smooth.
“Those athletes already in the system will be further refining their understanding, while also further enhancing their learning of the systems.
The men’s team will be touring from September 14-21.
The Australian women’s team has also sent a tour squad to Japan to face the women’s senior national team, with three WAIS athletes selected in coach Greg McFadden’s side. Eliesha Browne is joined by her Fremantle Marlins teammates Kassia Ralston and Maddy Quinn.
The tour completes on Sunday.
-WaterPoloAus
