Water polo players at leading Sunshine Coast independent school Matthew Flinders Anglican College have welcomed a new Director of Coaching, Duncan Greenbank, as they prepare for the 2022 season.
The College will build on the success of its 2021 water polo results, where three Flinders teams won their Grand Finals and five teams were Runners Up.
Duncan Greenbank has a distinguished track record in school water polo, having coached Queensland Junior teams to help develop athletes through the pathway programs, coaching the players to great success.
He has also worked with the Queensland Academy of Sport as an Assistant Coach to their Men’s Water Polo program from 2008 to 2013.
Principal Mr Stuart Meade said the College was fortunate to have Duncan Greenbank join the staff team.
“Duncan’s enthusiasm and experience will attract players to the sport as well as challenge the very best,” Stuart said. “He has been a wonderful addition to the College this year.”
Duncan’s other career highlights include in 2010 being appointed Head Coach of the KFC Breakers Men’s National League team, who placed in the top six over the next two years. Towards the end of 2012, he was appointed coach of the Women’s National League team, who finished in third place that year.
Following this, Duncan toured Europe with Australian Youth and Junior teams and in 2012 was appointed Head Coach of the Australian Junior Men’s team to contest the 2013 World Championships in Szombathely, Hungary, with several players going on to compete at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021.
Duncan said he was looking forward to joining Flinders’ thriving water polo program, supporting the phenomenal talent that the College has to offer, as well as teaching Senior School students in Business and Legal Studies.
“The Flinders water polo program is very strong and I’m hoping to use my knowledge and experience to support the student athletes and contribute to its ongoing success in 2022,” Duncan said.
Water Polo Coaching at Flinders
In his role as Director of Coaching at Flinders, Duncan will mentor and support water polo students and staff.
Duncan Greenbank joins eight other Directors of Coaching at Flinders who are all elite athletes in their respective sports, including Rodney Davison (Cricket), Rachel Sihota (Hockey), Lauren Nourse (Netball), Paul Arnison (Soccer), Peta Rogerson (Touch Football), Dale Ryan (Basketball), John Papahatzis (Rugby) and Sarah Johns (Volleyball).
In 2021, the three Flinders teams to win their Grand Finals were the Senior A Girls, Intermediate A Girls and Junior A Boys.
And the five Flinders teams to finish in second place were the Senior A Boys, Intermediate B Girls, Intermediate B Boys, Junior A Girls and Junior B Girls.
Recent Water Polo Achievements at Flinders
Duncan noted many Flinders students are individually achieving top results in the sport and representing at high levels.
“It’s shaping up to be a busy and rewarding year for our water polo players, with the school season set to begin in Term 3,” Duncan said.
Byron Hay and Louis McKenzie have been selected in the Queensland U14 ‘gold’ and ‘navy’ water polo teams respectively.
Representing Queensland at the recent Australian Youth Water Polo Championships held in Brisbane, Byron Hay and Max Leo-Worthington performed excellently, receiving a Bronze Medal for their efforts.
Up-and-coming player Lucy McCann competed for a Brisbane-based water polo team in the U14 Division 2 at Nationals and placed fifth.
Taylor Mitchell (U14) and Reese Cook (U15) have both had great seasons, with both students being selected in the Queensland Talent Identification Development (TID) squads for their respective age groups.
Henry Simpson competed for the Sunshine Coast at the National club titles, with his team placing fourth in Division 1.
In the U16 water polo age group, Keira Clarke competed at the National Championships for a Brisbane-based team and came seventh overall.
At the same event, Claire McCulloch's Brisbane-based club team won the Division 1 National U16 title for water polo, and she was then named in her first Australian squad. Claire participated in the National Squad camp after the tournament and is waiting to hear if she is named in the final team to compete at the Youth World Championships in Europe in September.
Most recently, Aaden Staskiewicz and Claire McCulloch competed at the Queensland Schools State Titles for the Sunshine Coast. Aaden's team won the tournament convincingly. Claire's team came fourth and Claire was named as a reserve for the Queensland U19 Schoolgirls team.
To learn more about the Flinders Directors of Coaching, please visit the College website page at https://www.mfac.edu.au/directors-of-coaching/
