Australian Stingers new look for FINA Water Polo World Super Final minus Olympic feel

It’s a new-look Australian women’s water polo side of “fearless’’ players and “risk takers’’ out to create big waves at a major event - and the Paris Olympics. So what’s different?

Tilly Kearns at the FINA World Championships Budapest.

It is one of the least experienced Australian water polo teams to head offshore for some time - and also one of its youngest.

It only has eight players from the Tokyo Olympic Games and also seven players who have represented Australia on less than 20 occasions.

And the average age of the team has dropped from 27 in Tokyo last year to just 22.

But rather than being worried, Australian women’s coach Paul Oberman is excited ahead of the FINA women’s water polo World Super Final in Spain from November 2-6.

“These are exciting times,’’ said Oberman of the Stingers team preparing for pre-tournament matches against the US and The Netherland this week.

Water polo player Amy Ridge

“Our whole philosophy is to take opportunity when it presents.

“It’s a good blend of youth - we only have three players with 100 or more game experience in Amy (Ridge), Bronte (Halligan) and Zoe (Arancini) - and this is about giving them as much experience as possible before the Olympics.’’

The Stingers earned their spot in the Super Finals after winning the World League Intercontinental Cup in March.

“We want risk takers, opportunista and fearless players. We want them to have a crack.’’

Only six players remain from the Tokyo Olympics in Halligan, Ridge, Arancini, Gaby Palm, Tilly Kearns and Abby Andrews.

NSW water polo player Bronte Halligan.

Young guns in the side include NSW players Sienna Hearn and Ruby Swadling and Perth’s Jamie Oberman, the daughter of the head coach.

Olympic champions, the US, are Super Final favourites and are in Group A at the event with Canada, Italy and The Netherlands.

Australia is in Group B with Hungary, New Zealand and Spain

Tilly Kearns at the FINA World Championships in Budapest.

Aussie Stingers Squad 2022: Abby Andrews (Qld), Charlize Andrews (Qld), Zoe Arancini (WA), Hayley Ballesty (NSW), Tenealle Fasala (Qld), Bronte Halligan (NSW), Sienna Hearn (NSW), Matilda Kearns (NSW), Bridget Leeson Smith (Qld), Genevieve Longman (WA), Jamie Oberman (WA), Gabriella Palm (Qld), Amy Ridge (NSW), Ruby Swadling (NSW), Alice Williams (Qld).

Aussie Stingers Draw

November 2: Australia vs Hungary - 9:20pm AEDT

November 3: Australia vs New Zealand 11:00pm AEDT

November 4: Australia vs Spain 12:40am AEDT

November 5 & 6: finals

MORE FROM AMANDA LULHAM HERE