WATER POLO: New Australian men’s water polo coach Elvis Fatovic has named an 18-man squad containing a mix of youth and experience for the Aussie Sharks’ next training camp in Sydney.

The intense four-day camp that begins on May 23 is an important step in the team’s preparations for the FINA World Championships that begin in Barcelona in July.

Headlining the team are seven members of the Australian team that finished seventh at last year’s London Olympic Games including both goalkeepers, James Clark and Joel Dennerley, centre back Richie Campbell and drivers Rhys Howden, Billy Miller, Aidan Roach and Johnno Cotterill.

Most of those players have been in fine form in the recently completed National Water Polo League finals series, with Clark (USC in the American college system) and Roach (Budva in Montenegro) earning selection from their overseas clubs. Cotterill is on the comeback trail after being struck down with Glandular Fever earlier in the year.

While Clark and Roach were available for the camp several other players have commitments to clubs in Europe and were not considered to participate in the camp.

Joining the Olympians are a host of youngsters including teenage centre forwards Lachlan Edwards and Gordon Marshall. Edwards played a role in the Victorian Tigers’ National Water Polo League victory and scored a strong goal in the gold medal match.

Another youngster to gain selection off the back of some superlative form in the National League finals is UWA’s George Ford. The all-rounder scored four goals and was the difference between the two sides in UWA’s upset semi-final win over their higher rated in-state opponents Fremantle.

Fatovic said there was no doubt the camp was an important part of Australia’s preparations for the major tournament of the year and even beyond.

“This camp is the beginning of preparations for the World Championships in Barcelona,” Fatovic said.

“It is very important for the players to complete their training program at the (SIS/SAS) institutes because it will benefit them for their future development as elite athletes.

“At this camp our training program will focus on functional motor abilities and adaption of technical and tactical solution.

“It is very important that we start to create a good atmosphere at the beginning of our road to Rio.

“Each quality player in the national squad is very important for our preparations for the Olympics and each player has a chance to be part of the team, however it is important to have consistency in playing for the national squad.”

Aussie Sharks squad for training camp in Sydney (May 23-26):

GK’s: James Clark (NSW), Joel Dennerley (NSW), Edward Slade (WA)
Field Players: Joel Swift (WA), BJ Howden (Qld), Lachlan Edwards (Vic), Gordon Marshall (NSW), Richard Campbell (NSW), Tyler Martin (NSW), Nathan Power (NSW), Rhys Howden (Qld), Billy Miller (Qld), Aidan Roach (NSW), Jarrod Gilchrist (Vic), Daniel Young (Qld), Johnno Cotterill (NSW), Daniel Lawrence (WA), George Ford (WA)

Water Polo Australia