An eye to the future for our next crop of Olympic stars - Australian ...

An eye to the future for our next crop of Olympic stars
G’day everyone
The Olympics are now in the rear view mirror and we are already focussed on what lies
ahead.
Last week I attended the 16 & Under Club National Championships and I’d like to pass on a
hearty congratulations to all the players, coaches, managers & referees who made it a highly
successful competition over the six days in Brisbane.
The standard of play was matched by the sensational weather and great venues that were
organised by Water Polo Queensland.
Further congratulations must go to Jodie Watson (Water Polo Queensland) and Peter Hobday
(Water Polo Australia) for organising a great tournament.
Unfortunately Jack Lusic, the Born 96 Australian head coach was unable to attend due to a
very serious and urgent back operation he had to undergo on Wednesday. After 11 hours on
the operating table it looks like the operation was a success and he was in good sprits when
we visited him on Saturday evening. Typically of Jack, the first thing he asked was how the
games were going and who was playing well. We wish Jack a very speedy recovery.
Congratulations also must go to All Hallows A, Sydney Northern Beaches, Cronulla Blue &
Hunter Hurricanes Blue for making the gold & bronze medal matches a fantastic spectacle for
the crowds.
After consultation with Jack Lusic and Georgina Kovacs we have announced a tournament 7.
Well done to the following players for an outstanding tournament.
Goalkeeper
Field Players
Tess Hosking (Dolphins)
Bronte Halligan (Sydney Northern Beaches)
Madeleine Steere (Essendon)
Chelsea Allen (Adelaide Jets)
Kristy Donkin (Sydney Northern Beaches)
Sally Coburn (All Hallows A)
Georgia McConville (Hunter Hurricanes Blue)
2013 looks like being a very exciting year for this age group as we continue to prepare for the
2014 FINA World Youth Championships. In preparation, 15 lucky players will be selected to
represent Australia on a European Tour in August next year.
To help select the players to go on this tour we are going to have training camps for the
players based in the following states in Western Australia, Queensland and New South
Wales. Players based in Tasmania and Adelaide will be invited to a training camp that will be
held in Melbourne. ACT players will be invited to attend the NSW camp.
These camps will be held between February and April and will be attended by Jack, Georgina
and the senior national head coach.
All 26 players who represented Australia at the Pan Pac Championships in New Zealand
earlier in 2012 will be invited to attend but only if they have been training and playing well in
the lead up to these camps. Other players who have been identified by Georgina and the
senior national head coach at these championships will also be invited after consultation with
their club coaches and there SIS/SAS coaches.
The players for these camps will be announced on the Water Polo Australia website at the
end of October with the dates of the camps to be announced in each state after the National
Water Polo League draw has been finalised.

We will be targeting Born 96 and 97 players for these camps with the rare exception of a Born
98 being invited depending on numbers.
Once these squads have been announced Jack and Georgina will be monitoring players
training and performances through their club coaches and the SIS/SAS coaches in each
state. If players are not training or performing at the level we expect future Youth National
team players, then they will be omitted from the squad and replaced by another athlete.
Good luck with selection and if given the opportunity to attend these camps make sure that
you are meeting the requirements of the Youth National team program.
Best Regards
Greg McFadden