WATER POLO: At the centre of Australia’s clinical defeat of the Netherlands in their final group stage game on Friday night were some of the Aussie Stingers’ usual suspects.
Captain Bron Knox, celebrating her 300th international game, scored the first goal, while London Olympic trio Nicola Zagame, Rowie Webster and Ash Southern were sensational, but it was the performance of one of the side’s lesser-known players that stood tall alongside them.
Zoe Arancini has been a role player in the Aussie Stingers’ set up since her debut in 2009, quietly amassing almost 150 Test caps. She just missed Olympic selection in 2012 before cementing a spot in the Australian squad in recent years, at the same time playing professionally in Italy, while maintaining her position for the Fremantle Marlins in Perth in a team coached by her father, Peter.
Hard working, determined, fast and strong, the diminutive Arancini was the squad member every team needs but she had never really stood out. Until now. And according to McFadden, the Western Australian has never been better on the international stage.
“Zoe had a great game and I think that’s pretty close the best game she’s played for Australia,” McFadden said in the aftermath of the Netherlands game won 8-6 by Australia.
“She was fantastic tonight, she was everywhere.”
But if it wasn’t for a heart to heart between the reserved Arancini and her experienced coach at a training camp prior to arriving in Kazan, her surge in form may never have come.
“I had a few meetings with Greg before this tournament because my performances before this weren’t up to par,” Arancini said.
“We had a discussion, we had a talk about it and now I am coming in with a different attitude, going in there and giving it my all and giving it my best, which I always do, but now I’m leaving nothing in the pool.”
McFadden implored Arancini to take more responsibility for her contribution to the team and believe in herself and her role amongst the host of Olympians and rising stars.
“It was about backing myself,” Arancini explained.
“He’s always known that I’ve had a great worth ethic but he said ‘ you’ve got to back yourself in certain situations, we need you. You’ve played a certain amount of games for Australia now and we need you to take it to the next level.
“I need to take more responsibility.”
Arancini and the Aussie Stingers will play their must-win quarterfinal against China on Tuesday night at 650pm local time (150am Wednesday AEST).
