Australian Water Polo League restructure to fire up the contest as Victorians enter the fold
The Australian Water Polo League will be the most competitive it has ever been thanks to a major shift in the structure, and the only place you can watch it live is here. FIND OUT HOW>>
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Water polo Australia is gearing up for the most competitive Australian Water Polo League on record and the only way you can watch the action live is with a News Corp subscription.
The AWL will return after a two-year Covid-enforced break, but it will take on a very different look following the addition of southern club Victoria Phoenix and a complete competition restructure.
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News Corp has come on board to exclusively live stream 88 matches across both the men’s and women’s AWL seasons, which kicks off in Sydney on Australia Day. Coverage will be accessible through our digital mastheads as part of a six-month broadcast deal with Water Polo Australia.
Included in the restructured league will be the KAP7 Cup, which will be staged across two separate events in Sydney and Adelaide. The results of the KAP7 Cup will determine two groups, a top six and then bottom three, to compete throughout the AWL season.
Included in the restructured league will be the KAP7 Cup, which will be staged across two separate events in Sydney and Adelaide. The results of the KAP7 Cup will determine two groups, a top six and then bottom three, to compete throughout the AWL season.
The competition was due to be a 11-team structure, but the indefinite postponement of Western Australia’s border opening has forced organisers to reshuffle the tournament.
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Western Australia’s two clubs UoW and Fremantle will not compete in any of the pre-season tournaments, but it is hoped they will take part in the play-off series.
“What we have done is restructured it to make sure we get more competitive games more often, but still find that balance where every club has a chance to win it at the start of the season,” Water Polo Australia chief executive Richard McInnes said.
“It means there will be less blowout games in the back half of the season. It is also better for our players because they are getting a harder hit out more often throughout the season.
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“There are no dead rubbers anymore, every game counts. You might be able to afford to drop one result, but certainly not two.”
McInnes said the restructure had been in the pipeline for several years, but had been put on the backburner after Covid forced an early end to the 2020 season and completely wiped out last year’s series.
The change is geared toward the fans, with more close contests in the pool providing much more exciting action to tune into.
“You want the games to be competitive, you don’t want it to be boring,” he said.
“It is that unknown, no one knows who is going to win when they tune in. People love watching a contest.”
The only place you can watch the Australian Waterpolo League is with a News Corp subscription. Follow the links above to watch each event live.
Originally published as Australian Water Polo League restructure to fire up the contest as Victorians enter the fold
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