12.10.2012

Australian Born ’96 boy’s coach Andrew Yanitsas has selected a target squad of 46 players for the 2014 World Youth Championships.

The newly appointed head coach selected the team after watching a host of future stars at the 16 & Under National Club Championships in Brisbane last week.

Yanitsas was pleased with the level of play at the tournament and praised the clubs for producing such a high standard of water polo.

“It was with great pleasure we were able to view all players from the 25 boy’s teams competing,” Yanitsas said.

“It was also pleasing to see the depth of the competition, with the knockout phase producing a host of tight games.

“Overall the talent was very pleasing with some great young athletes on show. A testament to this was that some very promising youngsters missed out on selection in our 46.”

National champions Melville have the largest representation in the squad with eight players selected, while Barracudas and Drummoyne also feature strongly.

Yanitsas said he was keen to harness the development of the boys and said it was important that all key areas be examined.

“We have selected a larger squad of 46 to help us identify potential players who could eventually become Australian senior players,” he said.

“As a result there was an emphasis on the key positions of goalkeeper, centre forward and left handers.

“We also looked at creating a good spread of players throughout the states which would help us enhance the level of performance at our training camps.”

Camps will be held in Sydney and Brisbane in November, and Perth in December whereby the squad members from these states will attend. South Australian and Victorian members will be required to attend one of these camps interstate.

After this the squad will be trimmed to 26 for a camp in Sydney in the third week of January.

Australian Born ’96 Youth Boys Squad

Tim Reeves (ACT, 96), Luke Macolino (Adelaide, 96), Cameron Den Dekker (Adelaide, 96), Jack Bell (Barracudas, 96), Kieran Mulcahy (Barracudas, 96), Lachlan Lyndon (Barracudas, 97), Hugh Morris (Barracudas, 96), Tom Freeman (Cronulla, 96), Rhys Holden (Cronulla, 97), Angus Lambie (Cronulla, 96), Stephen Xenakis (Drummoyne, 96), Rowan Farrell (Drummoyne, 97), James Smith (Drummoyne, 96), Adam Hall (Drummoyne, 97), Keenan Marsden (Hunter, 98), Josh Hayes (Hunter, 96), Jake Robinson (Hunter, 97), Mitch Marsden (Hunter, 97), Matt Singer (KFC Breakers, 96), Patrick Flanagan (KFC Breakers, 96), Noah Harron (KFC Breakers, 96), Liam Johns (KFC Breakers, 96), Tom Hardy (KFC Breakers, 96), William Lovelock (Melbourne, 96), Chris Perrot (Melbourne, 96), Max Mellor (Melbourne, 96), Drew Verboon (Melville, 96), Jake Leavy (Melville, 97), Luke Pavillard (Melville, 96), Joshua Leigh (Melville, 96), Ivan Thomas (Melville, 96), Andre Rebelo (Melville, 96), Alex Brogan (Melville, 97), Charlie Mormon (Melville, 96), Jeremy Nak (Sunshine Coast, 96), James Reid (SNB, 96), Conor Wolohan (SNB,97), Keegan Wicken (Sydney Uni, 96), Will Cotterill (Sydney Uni, 96), Nick Dempsey (Sydney Uni, 96), Jai MacNamara (Sydney Uni, 96), Hunor Kisci (UNSW Wests, 96), Josh Zekulich (UWA, 96), Alex Bogunovich (UWA, 96), Loch Pethick (UWA, 97), Pierce Manning (UWA, 97). Coaching Staff: Andrew Yanitsas (Head Coach), Michael Smith (Team Manager).

16 & Under National C'ships Tournament Team: Josh Zekulich, Luke Pavillard, Jake Leavy, Andre Rebelo, Keenen Marsden, James Smith, Patrick Flanagan

All new players to the squad are requested to contact team manager Michael Smith at mja.smith@bigpond.com so they can be informed of the dates and locations of the upcoming camps.