Talent Development Squad (TDS)

Junior Dolphins 2012-14’ | TDS 2014-19'

Notable Achievements:

- Born 2002 Australian Junior Team member

- Australian National Team Squad member

- Current Captain of the Drummoyne Mens AWL Team

Quote:

“I started TDS pretty young and honestly didn’t love it at first. I dreaded the dry land sessions and the swims, and training with older boys was pretty intimidating early on. But that challenge was exactly what made the difference. Training and competing alongside bigger, stronger and more experienced players forced me to improve quickly and pushed me well beyond what I thought I was capable of.

The best part was always the scrimmages. Every session felt like playing in a Canberra first grade all star game, and I loved the challenge of trying to compete with players above me. While the early mornings were tough and I was nervous going into sessions at the start, over time I learned to embrace it. The program taught me discipline, resilience, and the importance of showing up and pushing through when things got hard.”

TDS 2013-17'

Notable Achievements:

- NCAA Scholarship holder, Wagner College

- 2023 CWPA USA College Camp Coach

Quote:

“TDS was an important step beyond club training for me, providing access to a higher level of competition and the chance to train with older, more experienced athletes under a range of coaching styles. It also helped build a stronger sense of connection within the Canberra water polo community, particularly for female athletes who don’t always get the opportunity to train together consistently outside of state or national programs.

Training week in and week out in that environment played a huge role in my development and helped refine my skills at a higher level. It also opened pathways that ultimately led to the opportunity to study and compete in the United States at Division I level. Some of my fondest memories come from the friendships formed through the program and touring experiences such as the New Zealand tour, where our team won bronze.”

TDS 2012-18'

Notable Achievements:

- Born 1996 Australian World Championships Team member

- NCAA Scholarship holder, University of the Pacific, California

- Current coach of the UNSW Wests Mens AWL Team

Quote:

“TDS gave me consistent access to high level coaching and training. It played a huge role in developing my skills, fitness and tactical understanding, while also giving me the chance to train with older, more experienced players and coaches outside my age group. That exposure helped me earn selection in Australian junior teams and secure a scholarship to play at the University of the Pacific, where a number of Australians, including Matt, had also played.

I’m now coaching at AWL level, which I’m really proud of, and many of the lessons I learned through TDS helped shape both my playing career and my transition into coaching. Some of my favourite memories are the early morning sessions at Civic Pool with friends and travelling to New Zealand for Pan Pacific tournaments.”

TDS 2009-15'

Notable Achievements:

- Born 1994 and 1993 Australian World Championships Team member

- Member of the Australian World University Games Team

- Member of the Drummoyne AWL team for 8 years

- Captain of the Canberra Kraken Team 

Quote:

“I was part of the program from around age 12 until I moved to Sydney at 18. TDS was where I first started training properly for water polo and really learned how to play the game. It helped me understand the key skills and gave me exposure to a level of training intensity that was well above anything I experienced elsewhere. I also loved training alongside athletes from other clubs.

The biggest thing TDS gave me was the ability to turn basic skills into real performance. It helped develop me from someone who could swim into a player capable of competing at both state and national level. Some of my best memories came from the dry land sessions before training, especially the bucket holds along the pool deck at CISAC, where we would joke with the coaches as they kept adding weight until our arms gave out.”

TDS 2009-13'

Notable Achievements:

- Australian Schoolgirls Team Member

- Australian Junior squad selection

- National League Seasons (including Bronze medal with Sydney University)

- Winning the British University Champions with Exeter Uni

Quote:

“TDS gave me access to position specific goalkeeping coaching and extra training sessions that were far more structured than what I was getting at club level. It really pushed me to improve, and I also made some great friendships through the program.

The higher level training helped prepare me for National League, and made the step up much smoother, especially since many other athletes come from states with Institute of Sport programs. Being able to access that level of training in Canberra meant I only had to travel to Sydney once a week during high school, which made a huge difference. Some of my best memories come from the Pan Pacific trips to New Zealand and the friendships built through those tours, and I’m still playing and enjoying my water polo today.”

Junior Dolphins 2009-11' | TDS 2011-18'

Notable Achievements:

- Born 1999 and 2000 Australian World Championships Team member

- Member of the Australian World University Games Team

- 2019 AWL Champion with UNSW 

Quote:

“I was involved in the program from a young age, progressing through Junior Dolphins, Junior TDS, and then Senior TDS. What I loved most was how it brought the water polo community together and gave driven athletes the chance to keep improving in a sport we were passionate about.

The exposure to high quality, including international, coaches really helped my development and pushed me both physically and mentally. One of my standout memories was winning the Under 16 Pan Pacific Championships in New Zealand, which was an incredible experience and a great reward for the work put in through the program.”

TDS 2012-19'

Notable Achievements:

- Born 1998 Australian World Championships Team member

- Member of the Sydney University AWL team 

Quote:

“I really enjoyed my time training in the TDS program, particularly the Pan Pacific tours. I was fortunate enough to be selected in the Australian Junior National Team, and the opportunity to join the boys’ training sessions to prepare for faster shots made a huge difference to my development. The early mornings and tough sessions were challenging at the time, but they helped set me up not only for future training, but also for life beyond water polo.”

Junior Dolphins 2011-12’ | TDS 2012-19'

Notable Achievements:

- Member of the Hunter Hurricanes AWL team

- Founding member of the Canberra Krakens Team

- Australian Countries Team Member

Quote:

“I started out in Junior Dolphins when I was about 11 and moved into the TDS program pretty quickly, staying with it right through until it finished. What I loved most was the high level of training and the exposure to coaches from around the world. Getting the chance to go away to Pan Pacs in New Zealand was always a big goal for me every 2nd year and really pushed me to keep improving as a player.

The standard of training and the discipline around the program helped me well beyond water polo. It taught me that the more effort you put into something, the more you can get out. Some of my favourite memories include being coached by Dragan for a cycle and winning the Under”