2026 State Coaches Announcement

Water Polo Victoria is proud to announce the following coaching appointments for the 13&U, 15&U and 17&U 2026 State Programs.

These selections were made following a thorough Expression of Interest process and in consultation with our High-Performance Manager. It is fantastic to see representation from 6+ clubs across Victoria within our coaching cohort, highlighting the strength and depth of our community.

All programs will commence in Term 2, May 2026.

U13s Girls (2 teams)

Head Coach | Melissa Murphy & Dani Cale

Assistant coach | TBC

Melissa and Dani will be returning to the program having coached the 13&U Development Carnival last year.

Both Mel and Dani bring a strong passion for junior development, creating fun, inclusive, and engaging environments where athletes can build confidence and fundamental skills. Their collaborative approach will support the growth of our youngest state athletes.

U13 Boys (2 teams)

Head Coach | Patrick Healy & Will Murphy

Assistant coach | Adam Miller

Patrick and Will offer a balanced approach of skill development and game understanding, with a focus on establishing strong foundations and fostering a love for the game.

Both Patrick and Will are currently part of the newly reformed Academy Program coaching team; with Patrick based in Metro and Will based in Regional, we look forward to both their growth within this space.

Water Polo Victoria is looking forward to Adam starting his State Coaching journey across two age groups in the 2026 State program. Adam adds great energy to the group and will support athlete engagement and development throughout the program.

U15 Girls

Head Coach | Chloe Lim

Assistant coach | Sienna Barkei

Chloe has previously been part of the WPV state program and is returning in 2026. She is also currently part of the newly reformed Academy Program coaching team.

Sienna is an emerging coach with a strong connection to athletes, sharing knowledge from her recent Phoenix season and imbedded as a current athlete in our Academy program will allow practical knowledge to be shared across to the athletes.

U15 Boys

Head Coach | Koebe Nay/James Makeham

Assistant coach | Adam Miller

Koebe is returning in 2026 as a head coach after taking on the role as assist coach in 2025 alongside Matt Lea. Koebe is a driven coach with a focus on intensity, accountability, and progression, aiming to elevate athlete performance through structured and purposeful training.

WPV would like to welcome James to be coaching alongside Koebe.

James is currently involved in the Regional Academy Program and is a O&M representative who has been involved in WPV's state program over the years.

James provides strong support through his attention to detail and ability to connect with athletes, reinforcing both technical and tactical development.

U17s Girls

Head Coach | Karly Flahive

Assistant coach | Lily McNeill

It's exciting to see both Karly and Lily returning in 2026 to coach the same group as they did in 2025.

Karly brings extensive experience and leadership, focusing on preparing athletes for the demands of high-performance competition while fostering a strong and connected team culture.

Lily offers valuable insight and support, helping athletes refine their skills and build confidence at this critical stage of development.

U17 Boys

Head Coach | Rowan Bennett

Assistant coach | Lucas Heffernan

Rowan is a highly experienced coach who has been involved with Victorian Phoenix as a head coach in the 2026 season and have also coached the 17&U men's team in 2025.

Rowan will be accompanied by Lucas, who is an emerging coach who complements the program with his technical knowledge and ability from being part of the future Phoenix program.

Good luck to everyone involved in the State Program.