Footscray Swimming and Water Polo Club

This Father's Day, we’re honouring the generations of dads, grand-dads, coaches, mentors, supporters and club legends who have shaped our pool deck for over 100 years. From teaching the fundamentals to cheering from the sidelines through every grueling match, our fathers are the backbone of the Footscray family.

Share a photo of your favourite club dad and let everyone know what makes the Footscray Water Polo community feel like home.

Congratulations to the Footscray Swimming and Water Polo Club junior players who battled some tough opposition (and cold mornings!) during the Water Polo Victoria Junior Winter Competition ❄️❄️❄️

A massive shoutout to our new juniors who jumped in the pool for the very first time this winter - stepping onto the pool deck and trying a brand-new sport takes guts and every single one of you crushed it 💪 Watching skills grow, confidence build and friendships form from the very first whistle to the final game has been an absolute highlight for all involved!

While the winter caps and coats are hung up for now, this is only the beginning for our juniors. Keep those swimming legs moving and stay tuned for more information about the upcoming Junior Summer Competition that starts in Term 4 ☀️☀️☀️

Drop a comment below to tell everyone about your favourite part of the winter competition or what you are looking forward to most about summer 🔴⚪🔵

✨ SPONSOR APPRECIATION POST ✨

Thanks to the generous support of the Bendigo Bank Community Grant & Sponsorship Program, our juniors now have new playing caps - including specialist padded caps for the goalies!

Sponsors play a key role in keeping our club thriving, growing our junior programs and building a stronger community around the pool. We are so grateful to have amazing sponsors like Community Bank Seddon on board with the Footscray Water Polo family! ❤️🤽‍♂️🤍🤽‍♀️💙

Congratulations to Caro and the U18 Aussie Stingers - World Champions 🏆🏆🏆

CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD — AUSSIE JUNIOR STINGERS

What an incredible tournament. What an incredible team. And what a way to become WORLD CHAMPIONS.

The Aussie Junior Stingers have conquered the world, defeating defending champions Spain 9–5 in a magnificent World Championship final built on courage, discipline, defence and an unwavering belief in each other.

Australia didn’t just win the final, they produced a defensive masterclass when it mattered most.

Spain arrived as the defending champions and one of the most complete teams in the tournament, but Australia refused to allow them to dictate the contest.

Every Spanish attack was met with pressure. Every pass was challenged. Every drive was tracked. Every player committed herself to the defensive effort.

And behind it all was Caroline Healy, simply outstanding in the Australian goal.

Healy produced one of the performances of the tournament, making 9 saves from 13 shots for a remarkable 69.2% save rate. In a World Championship final, against Spain, that is an extraordinary performance.

But this victory belonged to the entire team.

From Connors, Oates, McCarthy, Booth, McEwan, Cooke and captain Mironova, through to Hoefel, Walker, Daly, Paul, O’Connor and O’Neill, every member of this squad has played a role in Australia’s journey to the top of the world.

The scoring in the final reflected that collective effort. Australia didn’t need to rely on one player to carry them. They found goals across the team while maintaining relentless pressure at the other end of the pool.

McCarthy was perfect with 2 from 2, Paul delivered 2 from 2, Daly scored 2 from 4, while Connors, Mironova and Hoefel also converted.

Nine goals. Five conceded. World champions.

And enormous credit must go to head coach Fabio Pavanello and his staff.

Tournament water polo is about far more than tactics. It is about preparing a group physically and mentally to keep performing as the pressure rises.

Pavanello had his team ready for the biggest game of their young careers, and Australia saved one of its finest performances for the moment that mattered most.

There were stars throughout this tournament, but perhaps the greatest strength of these Junior Stingers was that they became something bigger than any individual.

They defended together. They attacked together. They absorbed pressure together. And when the final siren sounded, they celebrated together.

Spain were the defending champions.

Australia are the WORLD CHAMPIONS.

A historic achievement for these young women, their coaches, their families and Australian water polo.

The Aussie Junior Stingers have reached the top of the world and they did it together. 🇦🇺🏆

With the first 6 games of Water Polo Victoria's Senior Summer State League Competition now complete, we thought it was time for a quick recap of results!

Check out the recent form of our WSL1, MSL1, MSL4 and OSL6 teams and send them some ❤️ for the next 6 games...

So excited for Victoria's Caroline Healy and the who are through to the semi-finals of the World Aquatics Women's U18 Water Polo Championships 2026 in Spain 🎉

We know the 'Healy Wall' well - having witnessed it on many occasions as both an opponent and a teammate - and can't wait to see it stand tall against the USA!

AUSSIES STUN GREECE — JUNIOR STINGERS INTO THE SEMI-FINALS 🇦🇺🔥

The Aussie Junior Stingers are through to the World Championship semi finals after producing a brilliant performance to defeat powerhouse Greece 9–5.

And what a performance it was.

Australia knew exactly what was coming. Greece entered the quarter-final as one of the tournament favourites, unbeaten and having powered their way through the group stages.

But the Aussies were ready.

The opening quarter was an arm wrestle at 1–1, before Australia broke the game open in the second period, outscoring Greece 4–2 to take a 5–3 advantage into halftime.

Then came the championship-defining quarter.

Australia’s defence completely shut Greece down in the third, keeping the Greeks scoreless while adding another three goals at the other end.

1–1 | 4–2 | 3–0 | 1–2

That third period gave Australia an 8–3 lead and complete control of the contest.

DALY ON FIRE 🔥

#11 Bless Daly delivered when it mattered most.

The 17-year-old was simply outstanding, firing home 6 goals from 12 attempts and playing almost 29 minutes as she tore into the Greek defence.

Six of Australia’s nine goals in a World Championship quarter final.

That is a serious performance on the biggest stage.

HEALY SLAMS THE DOOR

At the other end of the pool, goalkeeper Caroline Healy was superb.

She finished with 10 saves from 15 shots at a magnificent 66.7%, providing the backbone to an Australian defensive performance that restricted one of the competition’s most dangerous attacking teams to just five goals.

Australia had talked all tournament about having the weapons to challenge the best.

Tonight they proved it.

FULL TIME
AUSTRALIA 9 — GREECE 5 🇦🇺

The Junior Stingers have knocked out one of the tournament favourites and booked themselves a place in the WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI-FINALS.

And waiting for them?

🇦🇺 AUSTRALIA vs USA 🇺🇸

One win away from the World Championship gold-medal game.

The Junior Stingers are alive.

And now they are playing for a medal.

https://www.youtube.com/live/hKtZUnqlgk0?si=HGnekgeAmUCklLfY

👉 UNIFORM ORDERS CLOSE 5PM TODAY 👈

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📣 Curious about water polo? Come and give it a go! 📣

Girls Play Polo! is a fun three-week program designed to introduce and allow girls (aged 10 to 14) to come and try the sport in a welcoming, supportive environment while building confidence, skills, and friendships. For more information, and to register, visit:
https://www.revolutionise.com.au/wpvic/events/375018