LADDER LEADERS LOOK TO SECURE POSITION IN FINAL WEEKS OF COMPETITION

The remaining two weeks of the regular 2024 Australian Waterpolo League season will see teams make a final effort to secure their position on the ladder, with Championship points more important than ever.

Currently on top of the ladder are the Drummoyne Devils (Men) and Griffith University Queensland Thunder (Women), both of whom are aiming high when it comes to the 2024 season.

Despite the fact that they are yet to lose a game, Rio 2016 Olympian and Drummoyne Devils player Tyler Martin does not believe they’re favourites to take out the title.

“We’ve been building throughout the season but at the same time we’ve certainly got some improvement left in us. In some ways, it feels like the season is starting for us right now, even though we’re approaching the final weeks of competition,” said Martin.

“I don’t think we’re favourites, you look at Sydney Uni, UNSW Wests, ACU Cronulla and Balmain and they’re all really strong contenders who will be aiming to go all the way.

“The fact that we’re on top of the ladder at the moment does affect our confidence in a positive way, but at the same time, teams we’ve played along the way have also had a lot of improvement left in them too and have been missing some key personnel. 

“We’d prefer to be where we are than not, but at the same time we’re under no illusion that our position on the ladder means a result is set in stone,” he said.

For the Drummoyne men, the next few weeks will be critical.

“Our ultimate goal is to hopefully challenge for the title and win the Championship, but before that, our focus will be on our upcoming games we have coming up against some of the strongest teams on paper,” said Martin.

“We’ll play the next four top teams on the ladder before finals, so we’ll just keep taking it game by game and aim to keep improving,” he finished.

In the women’s League, a stellar season has seen the singular Queensland team drop just one match this season.

For Jessica Emerson and the Griffith University Queensland Thunder, only one game stands in between them and finishing the season on top.

“It’s been a great season for us so far, everyone in the squad has contributed so much to a really positive and encouraging environment,” said Emerson.

“Quite a few members of our squad play for the Ord Minnett Aussie Stingers, so they’ve been coming and going because of their national team commitments. As a result, everyone on the squad, and particularly the younger players, have all had an opportunity to gain some great experience and contribute a lot.

“Obviously it’s very positive to be sitting where we are on the ladder, we’ve worked really hard and it’s awesome to be leading. In saying that, we definitely won't be complacent cause we know that everyone will be putting their best foot forward.

“We’ve only got one more regular season game before finals, and that’s against Fremantle. We know it’s going to be an exciting and competitive match up, they’re a really great team with lots of experienced and smart players, so we’re looking forward to having a good hit out,” she finished.

To view a list of fixtures for this weekend and catch up on the results so far this season, click HERE.

Two games will be broadcast LIVE this Sunday April 7 from Sutherland Leisure Centre.

12:30pm (AEST) - ACU Cronulla Sharks v Sydney Uni Lions (Men)
2pm (AEST) - ACU Cronulla Sharks v Sydney Uni Lions (Women)

To watch the live stream, click HERE.