Australian under 16 water polo squad member Amelia Watt of St Rita’s finds her voice with Thunder
Imagine being aged 16 in the Queensland Thunder water polo side and having to bark orders at triple Olympian Bronwen Knox. That was part of Amelia Watt’s role when she made her AWL debut against Fremantle earlier this month.
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Imagine being aged 16 in the Queensland Thunder water polo side and having to bark orders at triple Olympian Bronwen Knox.
That was part of Amelia Watt’s role when she made her AWL debut against Fremantle earlier this month.
“I was calling which side I wanted the ball to go to which was quite nerve-racking given I was telling Olympians where to go,’’ she said. “But it was good once I got the nerves away.’’
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The St Rita’s College Year 11 student is a centre half forward and with that position comes the responsibility of organising.
Making the moment more imposing was that coach Benn Lees had moved Knox from her position of centre half forward to accommodate Watt.
“I was very nervous going into the game, but when my name was called to go into the pool, I just put all my nerves behind me and just gave it my all,’’ Watt said.
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Watt’s promotion into the Thunder side continued a period of milestone moments for her.
In 2018 Watt was selected in her first Queensland squad (under 14s) and it was then she realised she was a chance to progress in a sport introduced to her by her older sister Hannah.
Asked whether her first Queensland under 14 appearance went well, Watt said: “Not then. I did not put as much effort into it”.
“Then I decided to turn that around and pick up my attitude toward water polo.’’
Selections continued this year when Watt was named in the 04 Australian squad (under 16s) training for either the 2020 FINA junior world championships in Greece, or at the Pan Pacs.
“That is very scary but is a very exciting opportunity,’’ Watt said. “It is a goal I want to achieve.
“I am very nervous, but I want to push harder than I did when I was first called in for Queensland (in 2018). I have learned a lot more since back then.’’
Fellow St Rita’s club players Olivia Camilleri, Lily Carrick, Abigaile Houston and Horatia Schlect are also in the extended Australian squad after St Rita’s won a bronze medal at last month’s youth nationals.