Aussies Stingers set for Super Final showdown
Published Tue 04 Jun 2019
After two weeks training in Europe, the Australian women’s water polo team, the Aussie Stingers, are ready to play the world’s best at the FINA World League Super Final kicking off on 4 June in Budapest.
The team made the most of a northern hemisphere based Final, holding two one-week training camps alongside the Hungarian women’s team (in Montenegro) and the Spanish women’s team (in Barcelona).
With the Super Final closely followed by the FINA World Championships in July, the Aussie Stingers have a lot to play for.
The team will face China, Italy and the Netherlands in the preliminary rounds of the Super Final, beginning with Italy in the early hours of Wednesday morning (AEST time).
A dynamo of world water polo, the Italians were the silver medallists at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Rio Olympian Hannah Buckling said Australia would be tested by Italy.
“We haven’t played Italy in over a year so it will be interesting to see what they bring to the table,” Buckling said.
“Right now, we’re working on ourselves, generating systems and trying to highlight our strengths and we’re looking forward to putting our hard work to the test.”
Australia lost to Italy 8-7 in the pool rounds in Rio but that was not cause for concern for Buckling.
“As with any team, you take what you learn from game to game. While some of Italy’s players remain the same from the Olympics, and you can remember some of their tendencies, most of what we will be preparing is about our team and playing to our strengths,” she said.
Buckling said the team was feeling positive under the instruction of new head coach Pedrag Mihailovic.
“Everyone has adapted to the change really well, we are a resilient team,” Buckling said.
“It has been an opportunity to learn a different style of game and add to the Stingers repertoire.
“I think everyone is really looking forward to getting to the tournament and having an opportunity to put into practice the things we have been working on,” she said.
Buckling joined up with the Australian squad after a season abroad, playing with Olympiacos in the Greek league.
“The opportunity to learn a different style of game and play with and against world class players on a regular basis has been priceless. Olympiacos is such a great club, and the coaching staff and the girls made it so easy and enjoyable to come into the team,” she said.
The Stingers will mark one year until the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the FINA World Championships in South Korea.
“One year is still a long time, although I know it will fly by,” Buckling said.
“The Stinger’s squad is taking it day by day, and while it's incredible to begin the countdown to Tokyo, we are looking to improve and achieve our small goals day by day and week by week. We have a very talented and determined squad, so I am excited to see what we can achieve over the next year and a bit,” she said.
The Aussies Stingers take on Italy in the first of three pool rounds at the FINA World League Super Final beginning at 3:15am AEST on 5 June.
FINA WORLD LEAGUE SUPER FINAL
When: 4-9 June 2019
Where: Budapest, Hungary
About: Australia is one of four teams in group A and will play Italy, China and the Netherlands in the group rounds:
4 June - 8:15pm (CEST) vs Italy (5 June 4:15am AEST)
5 June - 3:00pm (CEST) vs China (5 June 11:00pm AEST)
6 June - 4:45pm (CEST) vs Netherlands (6 June 12:45am AEST)
Following the group rounds there will be three days of finals action including quarter finals, semi finals and finals. Australia's opposition on these days will depend on the results from the group stage.
Group B nations include - USA, Russia, Canada, Hungary
Australia finished second at the FINA World League Continental Final, losing narrowly to the world champions and Olympic gold medallists, USA, in a penalty shoot-out.
