Australia’s women’s water polo team have been bundled out of Olympic medal contention

THE Stingers rushed to absolve Bronwen Knox of blame after the skipper’s missed penalty saw Australia bundled out of Olympic medal contention for the first time ever in women’s water polo.

Bronwen Knox (#6) missed a penalty to give Hungary the win. Photo: Jamie Squire/Getty Images

ONE by one, Australia’s women’s water polo team hugged Bronwen Knox on the pool deck, silently absolving their captain of blame after her missed penalty saw the Stingers knocked out of the Olympic medals.

But in the mind of coach Greg McFadden, it should never have got to that point.

Not only should the Stingers’ skipper not been in that position due to victory being secured much earlier, but in the event of a draw, McFadden believes the sport should not move straight from a draw to cutthroat penalty shootouts.

Rio Day 10: Aussies at the 2016 Olympics

VIEW GALLERY

“It’s a lottery,” McFadden said.

“A goalie jumps one side, you hit the posts. I don’t agree with penalty shoot outs because it makes one person feel bad.

“It is a team sport and I would prefer to play extra-time, and I have said that all the time.”

Since 2008, however, it has been penalty shootouts to decide draws and after delivering heartbreak to Hungary in the last two Olympics after ties in regulation time, the tables were turned in Rio.

The Australian bench during the quarterfinal against Hungary. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Australia led 5-1 in the first half and then 8-6 with only minutes left, but they let Hungary draw level. Twelve-year veteran Knox took the third penalty shot and it cannoned off the left post; opening a door for the Hungarians to win and progress.

It is the first time since women’s water polo was admitted to the Olympics in 2000 that Australia has missed the semi-finals. In the last two, Australia has won bronze by beating Hungary after draws at the end of regulation time; via extra time in Beijing and a penalty shoot out in London.

“It is about time they probably got one back at us,” McFadden said.

Hungary's Dora Antal celebrates after winning the waterpolo qauerterfinal match against Australia.

The team were quick to rally around Knox, their hugely respected leader, both on pool deck and when talking to media soon after.

“We are all behind her,” vice-captain Rowie Webster said.

“It could have been any one of us. I have missed penalties before, and I know it wasn’t my fault. Unfortunately it was just a little bit of execution but it shouldn’t have come down to that. We had our opportunities before that. We led the whole game and we let them back in.”