Australian coach furious over Stingers being belted in the pool

AUSTRALIAN women’s water polo coach Greg McFadden has fired up at officials over rivals getting away scot free for belting his players.

Women’s water polo coach Greg McFadden has pleaded for better protection of his players.

FORGET the stinky pool. Australian women’s water polo coach Greg McFadden is more upset with stinks in the pool and rivals getting away scot free for belting his players.

McFadden was fuming at officials after a Brazilian player escaped any sanction for punching Stingers player Hannah Buckling in the face during the Stingers’ 10-3 win overnight in Rio, but his side were penalised several times for minor offences.

Australia locked down a quarter-final clash with most likely Hungary on Tuesday morning (AEST) after overcoming a nervous start and the boisterous crowd cheering on Brazil at the Maria Lenk Aquatic Centre.

Zoe Arancini #9 of Australia and Marina Zablith #3 of Brazil battle for the ball during Australia’s 10-3 win.

The Stingers quietened the crowd but a fired-up McFadden was happy to make noise during the game, and afterward, when he remonstrated angrily with the match officials.

McFadden explained post-match he felt Australia were being judged with one set of rules and most rivals with another, and cited a punch to Buckling as the evidence.

“​I am really disappointed in the officiating of the games. One our girls, a player is on her back, and she gets called for an elbow and yet one of their girls blatantly punches one of our girls in the face and yet nothing happens,” McFadden said.

“Hannah Buckling was swimming and the centre forward turns around and clocks her right in the jaw.

“She swims straight to the corner. Hannah is a pretty tough girl and she is not going to go out for any other reason apart from getting belted.”

Australia had two players excluded, or sent to the sin bin in layman’s terms, but Brazil had none.

Hannah Buckling (3), got clocked right in the jaw, says coach Greg McFadden.

McFadden claimed Australia were the only side getting players excluded in either the men’s and women’s tournaments, but stats show they’re not. Even in their 8-7 loss to Italy, the Italians had a player excluded - albeit with Australia copping two.

Aussie captain Bronwen Knox said McFadden was defending his players but said the key was for her team to be able to roll with the punches, literally.

“It is a game of water polo. It goes both ways. It is getting heavy out there but you have to be able to adapt,” Knox said.

“Our coach is always on our side, no matter what. It is like anything when you are barracking for your team, the ref is always harsh. But that’s how the game goes and you have to rise above it.”

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Knox said she was pleased with her side’s ability to adapt to the deafening crowd noise.

“We don’t see much of that, so it was nice to have that involvement from the crowd,” Knox said.

“It is a great environment to be a part of, and good preparation for what’s to come.

“We had to work out how to communicate with each other and talk to each and get on the same page. It was a great advantage.”

The diving pool next to the water polo venue was still a dark green but Knox said the aqua pool in which they played was not a huge problem.

Some have been affected by the huge amounts of chlorine dumped in the pool to treat the problems but Knox said her team weren’t overly concerned given some of the venues they’ve played in the past.

“We have played in Sydney Harbour, so you have to think a chlorinated pool is much better than that. Most pools are pretty stock standard. You have to make do,” Knox said.

“Today I didn’t notice the chlorine at all. It might a look a bit different but I don’t notice it.”

Originally published as Australian coach furious over Stingers being belted in the pool