Former Stingers Captain to Lead Victorian Phoenix

One of Australia’s most successful female water polo players, triple Olympian and former Stingers Captain, Rowie Webster has been named as the new coach of the Victorian Phoenix Water Polo Womens Team. Rowie will join Men’s Coach Slobodan Macic as the Head Coaches of their respective teams for season 2022/23.

The Victorian Phoenix competes in the Australian Water Polo League (AWL) with all the best players from around the country playing in the league.

As a player, Rowie has played for Australia in more than 300 International games. Having recently stepped back from playing at an International level, Rowie has been awarded an AIS National Generation 2032 Coaching Scholarship and is being supported by Water Polo Australia and the Victorian Institute of Sport.

President of Victorian Phoenix, Gary Barclay said “Rowie’s appointment as Head Coach of the Womens team is a real coup for water polo in Victoria. Current and future players will benefit from the years of experience that Rowie has at a National and International level. For players who aspire to represent their country in water polo, Rowie will provide them with the training etiquette, knowledge, skills and techniques to make the most of their potential.”

The Club also acknowledges the outstanding contribution made by 2021/22 season Women’s Head Coach Greig Richardson. “We acknowledge and thank Greig for the coaching and support he has provided the Victorian Phoenix players over the past 12 months and the huge contribution he has made to water polo in Victoria and Australia over many years,” said Barclay. Richardson will continue to be involved in the Victorian Phoenix program in a senior technical support role.

Slobodan Macic will coach the Men’s team again in season 2022/23 following a significant improvement in player development and performance last season. Slobo has a long list of successes as a coach of male athletes in Australia and overseas. He has coached the Montenegro Youth Team to a gold and a silver medal at the

European Championships and coached the Victorian Seals to 2nd place in the former National League competition back in 2014.

The Victorian Phoenix have just begun stage 2 of their pre-season training with players back in the water twice a week with the AWL club and twice a week with their local Club teams. Local players are either training with the Phoenix or in the Water Polo Victoria Academy program.

Interstate or International players who wish to be coached by two of the best water polo brains in the country and would like to live in the sporting capital of Australia are welcome to reach out.

Gary Barclay President Victorian Phoenix gary@garybarclay.com