JOIN THE CLUB: Splash out on polo

A DEDICATED group of swimmers regularly turns the quiet blue water of Kardinia Aquatic Centre’s pool into raging white rapids.
The colourfully capped members of Geelong Marlins Water Polo Club race up and down the pool chasing a small ball.
For anyone who has ever thrown a ball around a pool, water polo represents ultimate fun.
Marlin Anthony Byrne said the mixed gender and mixed age social competition certainly kept him fit.
“It’s a non-contact and low-impact team sport, so it’s attractive to a lot of people who love swimming but don’t just want to do laps,” Anthony explained.
“For instance, I have knee and back injuries, so I can’t run and need to be in the pool but water polo spaces things up nicely.
“We have a few former footballers who can’t run and play footy anymore, so they took up water polo.
“It’s a fast game and at the higher levels it certainly keeps you fit but we have people of all abilities playing.
“A game can have a lot of substitutions because there are six players and a goalie and there’s no rest while you’re out there.”
The Marlins will soon select two men’s and one women’s team to represent Geelong at Victorian Country Water Polo championships in February.
In the past Geelong players have swum on to be selected in Victorian’s team to compete at Australian Country Championships, Anthony said.
The club had a number of promising juniors, he said, but without a local junior competition most were forced to Melbourne for competitive action.
Junior coordinator John O’Callaghan said the club was offering a series of junior come-and-try sessions during January.
“We’d like to see whether there’s enough interest to get a junior competition up and swimming,” John said.
“We’re really fortunate here to have such good access to great aquatic facilities, which they don’t have in Melbourne.
“The Melbourne clubs have helped us set up school water polo and St Ignatius and Christian College students have had a go.
“Water polo is a bit of a niche sport but some of our juniors are taking to it like a duck to water.”
John got involved because his son Pat, 17 and daughter Claire, 14, enjoyed it so much.
Claire has already been selected to the Victorian under-14 team to compete in an East Coast Challenge at Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre.
The junior come-and-try sessions, which have so far attracted between 15 and 20 swimmers, will run from 5pm to 7pm every Friday during January at Kardinia pool.
John said prospetive participants could phone him on 0418 343 132 for more information.
The seniors play Monday evenings at 6.45pm at Kardinia.
John said more information was available by emailing geelongwaterpolo@eftel.net.au or finding the club on Facebook.