Four-some display at national titles

Four players from this region made quite a splash at the Australian Youth Water Polo Championships last month winning medals and possible state selections.

Amelie Hoefel, Phoebe Dobson, Annabelle Clarke, pictured above, and Mia Doyle represented their clubs at the four-day titles held at venues in Brisbane.

Dobson, who lives at Newport and plays for Yeronga-based Mermaids, joined players from Tasmania and Adelaide in an Under 18 Green section team.

They went through the division undefeated and claimed the gold medal in an exciting final.

Semi-final shootout

Redcliffe’s Amelie Hoefel was with Mermaids in the Under 14 Gold Premier Division and played a key role in a thrilling semi-final penalty shootout.

She was first to go, against North Brisbane Polo Bears, scoring with a bounce shot setting Mermaids on their way to victory.

Hoefel scored in the final, but AHS proved too strong and Hoefel had to settle for silver to go with her two Queensland golds and Brisbane Silver in a stellar season.

“To end this season with an Australian silver medal is amazing,” the Redcliffe High School student said. “The team worked so hard, including the coaches and managers.”

Play-off victory

Grace Lutheran student Mia Doyle was in the Under 14 Gold Premier Division with North Brisbane Polo Bears, based at Albany Creek.

Polo Bears lost their semi-final to Mermaids but rallied for a strong finish, beating Sydney Breakers in the bronze medal play-off match.

Doyle added that to her Brisbane gold and the Queensland silver medals collected this season.

North Lakes’ Annabelle Clarke was goalkeeper for the Mermaids Blue team in the Under 16 Gold Premier Division.

Talent program

The Grace Lutheran College student helped Mermaids to great wins in a tough age group with four of the five teams from NSW and unfortunately did not medal.

As a result of their performances Hoefel and Doyle have been named for the 2022 Talent Youth Identification program.

That could lead to selection for Queensland Under 14s at the Interstate Challenge, hosted by Water Polo Victoria on June 10-13 in Melbourne.

Action pictures courtesy of Mark Byrne and Nick Bamber.