A FLOOD OF POOL ACTION ON THE WAY

WATER POLO Australia is gearing up for the most competitive Australian Water Polo League on record and the only way you can watch the action live is with a News Corp subscription.

The AWL will return after a twoyear Covid-enforced break, but it will take on a very different look following the addition of southern club Victoria Phoenix and a complete competition restructure.

News Corp has come on board to exclusively live stream 88 matches across both the men’s and women’s AWL seasons, which kick off in Sydney on Australia

Day. Coverage will be accessible through our digital mastheads as part of a six-month broadcast deal with Water Polo Australia.

Included in the restructured league will be the KAP7 Cup, which will be staged across three separate events in Sydney and Adelaide. The results of the KAP7 Cup will determine two groups, a top six and then bottom five, to compete throughout the AWL season.

“What we have done is restructure it to make sure we get more competitive games more often, but still find that balance where every club has a chance to win it at the start of the season,” Water Polo Australia chief executive Richard Mcinnes said.

“It means there will be less blowout games in the back half of the season. It is also better for our players because they are getting a harder hit out more often.

“There are no dead rubbers any more, every game counts. You might be able to afford to drop one result, but certainly not two.”

Mcinnes said the restructure had been in the pipeline for several years, but had been put on the backburner by Covid.

The change is geared toward the fans, with more close contests in the pool providing much more exciting action to tune into.

“You want the games to be competitive, you don’t want it to be boring,” he said. “It is that unknown, no one knows who is going to win when they tune in. People love watching a contest.”

The only place you can watch the Australian Waterpolo League is with a News Corp subscription, which is available through this masthead’s website.

Picture: Liam Kidston. Sienna Green (Sydney Uni), Macy Hansford (Drummoyne Devils), Jade Vinson (ACU Cronulla Sharks), Dayna Garside (UNSW Wests Killer Whales), and Olivia Mitchell (UTS Balmain Tigers) ahead of the Australian WPL.