OVO AWL | Mental Health awareness top of mind in Round 7

Published Thu 14 Mar 2019

This Sunday Drummoyne Devils welcome UTS Balmain Tigers to the Drummoyne Swimming Pool as part of mental health round in a cross town clash for the OVO Play live stream match of the week.

All teams across the round will look to break down the stigma around mental health and encourage the Water Polo community to promote positive mental health.

Drummoyne Water Polo Club have teamed up with well-known mental health organisation LIVIN to continue to raise awareness and at the same time raise funds for LIVIN.

Sam Webb, the Co-Founder of LIVIN said "the entire Drummoyne region and the City of Canada Bay has raised significant funds and awareness for our cause, which benefits people from all walks of life.

“No one organisation is better than any other, we all have the same end goal to save lives, that support is available and ‘it ain’t weak to speak’ to anyone,” he said.

New Devils recruit and Aussie Sharks player Blake Edwards says water polo Clubs play a pivotal role in promoting positive mental health.

“Mental health is such an important issue in today’s society, it impacts everyone in some form and any way water polo can promote strong mental health is a good thing.

“The water polo community is such a tight knit group, it is vital we speak about it and raise awareness around mental health so we can use our resources to support people who need it,” he said.

Having already come face to face with Balmain earlier in 2019 for a 10-3 victory, Edwards is expecting a much closer affair in round seven.

“Balmain are always tough opposition, they have a lot of pride when they play.

“They are a cross town rival of ours and they really impressed us at Dawn Fraser Baths earlier this season irrespective of the score line,” he said.

Edwards identified one player who will be pose a major threat.

“They’re led by their captain James Clark who is experienced and in red hot form, then beyond that they’re just a really well-balanced team.

“We trained against them a fair bit in the off season so we’re aware of their tactics and we’ll want to systematically shut them down with our defence,” said Edwards.

Currently sitting second on the men’s competition ladder Devils will be keen to impress heading into the back half of the season.

With 29 goals to her name so far, UTS Balmain Tigers top goal scorer Rowie Webster echoed Edwards’ sentiments about the importance of mental health ahead of Sunday’s fixture.

“It’s something which is close to everybody’s heart because we all know somebody who has dealt with mental health.

“It’s great that as a sport we’re highlighting the importance of this major issue and to let people know there is always a shoulder to lean on.

“This round is important to start that conversation around pool deck,” she said.

After suffering their first loss of the season last weekend against Fremantle in Perth, Webster believes it was a good reality check.

“We know we’re in a good position at the halfway point in 2019, but dropping that game was a wakeup call that it is anyone’s title this year, you just need to put four quarters together on the day.

“As we went into the second half of this season our goal was to win every quarter of every match we played.

“That now isn’t possible after our Fremantle match and we still have some class acts in front of us, so our job is to seal a win in every game we play and we’re starting by taking our two games this weekend very seriously,” she said.

Having to sit out of their 14-8 win against Devils in round four, Webster is excited to dive in on Sunday.

“I was out then through injury but am looking to contribute hopefully to a winning scoring line.

“Drummoyne are the comeback queens, they always just keep fighting and they’re known for that never say die attitude, we’re not taking them lightly,” she said.

All teams bar Hunter Hurricanes will be in action across round seven of the OVO Australian Waterpolo League.

UNSW Wests will be in Perth when they take on Fremantle and UWA Torpedoes which will provide highly entertaining water polo for fans.

FYFE Adelaide Jets find themselves on the road to Brisbane to face Queensland Thunder. While ACU Cronulla Sharks are set for two big clashes across the weekend against Sydney Uni Lions and UTS Balmain Tigers, before the second western derby of the 2019 season wraps up round seven.

The world’s best teams converge on Perth for the 2019 World League Inter-Continental Cup from 26-31 March. Find out more and purchase your tickets HERE.

HOW TO WATCH DRUMMOYNE DEVILS VS UTS BALMAIN TIGERS

DRUMMOYNE DEVILS VS UTS BALMAIN TIGER

WHEN: Sunday 17 March
WHERE: Drummoyne Pool, Sydney
WOMEN'S MATCH: 5:00pm (AEDT)
MEN'S MATCH: 6:30pm (AEDT)

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