AUSTRALIAN YOUTH WATER POLO CHAMPIONSHIPS WRAP - DAY 3 WRAP

Teams put it all on the line on day three of the 2023 Australian Youth Water Polo Championships, going head to head in the final group stages, playoffs and quarter finals.

The junior players were also buzzing with excitement, eager to watch their Aussie Sharks and Aussie Stingers heroes in action in the Tri Nations Water Polo Test Match Series.

UWA 18&U Boys have made their way through to the semi finals, after defeating home town rivals Melville in the quarterfinals.

Owen Lilleyman said it was a tough game, and he is relieved they were able to deliver the win.

Harry Tucker and Owen Lilleyman

“Being here at the Australian Youth Water Polo Championships, everyone wants to win a lot more and it’s a lot more high stakes, It’s about leaving nothing in the pool,” Lilleyman said.

“Having a home crowd for us has been so great too. It gives us more motivation to go out there and play well.

“It would mean a lot - since under 14s we’ve all dreamed about it (winning a medal). 

“We just haven’t been quite good enough over the years, and for us this year as older boys it’s our last chance to win a medal at AYC,” he said.

Adelaide 18&U Girls’ Milly Bradley said her team is loving the experience of being in Perth for the first time.

“We struggled with the first couple of games so it was good to have a win today. All the girls played really well as a team so it was really good to see,” Bradley said.

“We’re loving it here in Perth, it’s so good. Good to be in a different state, and meet new people and make new friends, so it’s been really good.

“We’ve got one game tomorrow, and then another one on Friday, which should be good fun. We might not have won all our games, but at least all the girls are enjoying it and having the time of their life,” she said.

For 12 year old Mack Jaski from Melbourne Collegians (Vic) 14&U Boys side, he’s relishing the opportunity to play at his first Australian Youth Water Polo Championships.  

“It’s very fun, I like the atmosphere and water polo is just a fun game. It's nice to play teams from other States, it’s very challenging. 

“Our results are going pretty well, we’ve won most of our games which is really good,” he said.  

Queensland’s Mermaid 14&U team mates, Poppy Lochran and Ava Shearer, couldn’t be enjoying their time at the event more and are excited to be getting along to watch the Aussie Stingers take on USA in tonight’s opening test match. 

“It’s both our dreams to play for the Aussie Stingers so it will be really cool to see them play,” siad Lochran. 

“The AYC has been so much fun, … and every team is so nice, everyone is so supportive. 

“Every team has a different style of play, and we haven’t versed some teams from other states before, so learning how they play the game it's inspiring to see every different team’s skills and how they attack each game,” she said.

Shearer echoed her comments, saying: “It’s been going really well, we’ve won all of the games but one so far. It’s great to get new perspectives against new teams. 

“Excited to see them [Aussie Stingers]... you watch them and see how they play and you can learn from them.”