Aussie Sharks steal the show as thousands pack into Icebergs
The boys getting ready in front of the packed out crowd
The sport of water polo received a rock star reception last night as the Aussie Sharks men’s water polo team played host to an action packed evening of elite sport at the budgy smuggler Water Polo By The Sea event.
Every seat, edge, balcony and standing room space of the Bondi Icebergs venue was filled, as two-thousand spectators crammed into the iconic location to watch the Aussie Sharks take on the USA men’s team in a promotional game.
Celebrities, sporting stars and die-hard water polo fans watched in awe as Australia’s water polo champions slugged it away with their American counterparts, highlighting the true, rugged nature of the game.
For the event’s brain child, Woollahra's Thomas Whalan, it was a dream come true.
“Look, I have absolutely loved it. It has been the biggest stress of my life for the last four weeks, but this is what I had envisaged and we pulled off an amazing event,” an ecstatic Whalan said.
“I’ve had this concept in the back of my mind for my whole career and to see it come to fruition is very satisfying.”
In the pool, the Aussie Sharks captivated the capacity crowd from the opening whistle.
Early goals to Johnno Cotterill and Mitch Baird helped set up a sizeable first quarter advantage, before further strikes to captain Sam McGregor and the hulking Baird established a 6-3 lead at half time.
Not to be overshadowed, the man of the moment Whalan made sure he got on the scoresheet scoring a penalty late in the third period to extend the lead.
The Sharks then seized control in the last quarter scooting out to a 10-7 margin to seal the victory in what Whalan described as a fabulous moment for the sport.
“I reckon we’ve had over 2,000 people come into Icebergs to watch water polo,” Whalan said.
“It’s just unheard of in Australia.
“On top of that, we’ve been all across the media, with a large amount of video footage aired on TV and online.
“Everything has just worked out perfectly. It’s just amazing.”
The untapped success of the Water Polo By The Sea has come at a good time for Australian water polo.
The 2012 Water Polo Pan Pacs begin in Melbourne next Sunday (Jan 8) and Whalan believes events like his and the Pan Pacs will only continue to develop the game.
“Of course. I think it would be amazing if this could become an annual event,” he said.
“We had four weeks to put this together and you can see how successful this is. So if we had four months together and a larger team promoting it, who knows what we could achieve.
“Add this to the inaugural hosting of the Water Polo Pan Pacs in Melbourne, and we have initiatives that have never existed before.
“Water polo needs this extra boost and in terms of promotion with the Olympics around the corner we’re definitely going in the right direction.”
The Pan Pacs will be the biggest lead in tournament to July's London Olympic Games for both the Sharks and the Aussie Stingers women's team.
For more information about the 2012 Water Polo Pan Pacs go to waterpolopanpacs.com
Australia
Joel Dennerley, Richie Campbell, Johnno Cotterill, Mitch Baird, Rob Maitland, Anthony Martin, Rhys Howden, Sam McGregor, Thomas Whalan, Gavin Woods, AJ Roach, Billy Miller, Samuele Avallone
Result: (Exhibition match) Australia 10 bt USA 7
Scorers: Sam McGregor 2, Mitchell Baird, Johnno Cotterill, Thomas Whalan, Billy Miller, Rhys Howden, Rob Maitland, Richie Campbell
