Strong women in the spotlight for OVO AWL Round 6

Photo: Newcastle Herald

With the 2020 OVO Australian Waterpolo League returning to pools across Australia this weekend, teams will also be taking the time to recognise the strong females in our water polo community.

Round six will double as International Women’s Round, and FYFE Adelaide Jets will host Hunter Hurricanes for the OVO Game of the Week.

Both Adelaide and Hunter women’s sides are in a rebuilding phase, with squads made up of the next generation of national league players, and will be searching for redemption when they meet this weekend.

Hunter captain Julia Barton said she’s expecting some quality encounters in their match up with Adelaide.

“Hopefully they will be a couple of really good games and our girls are looking forward to playing against them,” Barton said.

“They’ve got a mix of younger girls that’ll be fresh, and a few more experienced girls who always put up a quality opposition,” she said.

“We’re in a pretty similar position so it’ll be good to see how we match up.”

Hunter women’s team have combined youth and experience this season, with their younger team members relishing the experience to play with London Olympian Jane Moran.

“Having Jane in the team means a lot, and it’s awesome to play alongside someone who’s competed at the highest level,” Barton said.

“Not only is Jane paving the way in the pool, but she is a trailblazer in her professional career as well, she holds executive roles, she’s a female engineer - it’s so awesome to see someone dominating a traditionally male oriented field,” she said.

“The young girls really look up to her strength in character, but also her determination against any opposition we face.”

“But it’s also great for me as a more senior player to have someone of her calibre to learn from.”

Barton said that she’s incredibly proud to be a woman in water polo.

“Water polo is a more physical sport and defies some of the gender stereotypes that exist and I’m really proud to be a part of that,” Barton said.

“I think it’s really important for young girls to have strong sporting role models to look up to, and I think the past and present Stingers, and national league players, are doing a really good job of being those role models,” she said.

“Water polo has done a great job of promoting those role models and it’s really important that we continue to do that.”

The FYFE Adelaide Jets-Hunter Hurricanes game will be streamed LIVE on OVO Play or can be watched via the OVO Play App from 5:00pm AEDT on Saturday 14 March.

For full fixtures and results, stay up-to-date via the match centre.

Get social this season #OVOAWL2020 and follow @WaterPoloAus