Faces of AYWPC | Tom Hoad (Western Australia)

When you think of water polo in Western Australia, you immediately think of Tom Hoad AM. 

His presence on pool deck over the decades has made him one of the most recognised water polo people in Australia, with Hoad’s long list of achievements last year seeing him inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame as well as named Patron of Water Polo Australia. 

The proud Western Australian was selected to play at four Olympic Games, Rome 1960, Tokyo 1964, Mexico 1968 and Munich 1972, before going on to coach the national team to an additional four Olympics from 1976 to 1988.

He has continued to give back to the sport following his illustrious career, at a local, national and international level. In fact, at the 2023 Australian Youth Water Polo Championships is coaching 14&U Boys side from his beloved Melville Water Polo Club at his name sake pool even… the Tom Hoad Aquatics Centre. 

Hoad is pleased to welcome not only the thousands junior players to his hometown Perth, but Australia’s Olympic squad and international teams. 

“It’s very nice to have the Australian Youth Water Polo Championships in Perth for the first time. We’ve got good venues, and better weather than anywhere else.

“It’s a big event, they’ve run out of sausage rolls! I know that because I wanted one for lunch and they didn’t have any,” laughed Hoad.

While his junior players might not fully appreciate how fortunate they are to learn from someone with Hoad’s level of experience, Hoad is pleased to be guiding another generation of players. 

“My team, they’re a year younger than their counterparts, so as long as they give it their all, I’m happy,” he said. 

Perth is known for hosting world class sporting events and water polo is no exception.  While it is the first time Perth will host the Australian Youth Water Polo Championships, Hoad said the event is the beneficiary of significant legacy venues. 

“I ran the World Championships here twice in the 80s, and all these pools were built for that. 

“It’s been a good legacy from that point of view, and great to see them still being used,” he said. 

Hoad is also looking forward to seeing the venues used for the international Tri-Nations Test Series that will feature the current crop of Australian players who will take on the USA Women and Japanese Men. 

Always keeping his finger on the pulse, Hoad said: “I think our Australian teams will go well.”

Now in its fourth year, the Australian Youth Water Polo Championships has become a marquee club event on the national water polo calendar.  

And while Club honours and national titles are all up for grabs Hoad had some parting words for all the players taking part. 

“Words of advice to juniors at AYC… learn from this experience, and look to improve in each game, and work hard,” he said.