86.18.226.253: /* Men's champions */Added content

2025-04-11T21:45:49Z

Men's champions: Added content

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{{Short description|Premier Australian domestic water polo competition}}
{{Use Australian English|date=March 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}
{{Infobox sports league
| title = Australian Water Polo League
| logo = [[File:Australian_Water_Polo_League_Logo.png|250px]]
| formerly = Australian National Water Polo League
| sport = Water Polo
| organiser = [[Water Polo Australia]]
| inaugural = 1990
| teams = 11
| country = [[Australia]]
| champion = '''Men''': [[Drummoyne Devils]] (1st title)<br />'''Women''': [[Queensland Thunder]] (8th title)
| most successful club = '''Men''': [[Fremantle Mariners]] & [[UNSW Wests Magpies]] (7 titles)<br />'''Women''': [[Queensland Thunder]] (8 titles)
| website = https://www.waterpoloaustralia.com.au/wpal-events/ovo-awl
}}

The '''Australian Water Polo League''' (formerly known as the '''Australian National Water Polo League''') is the premier Australian domestic [[water polo]] competition. The men's league was established in 1990 with the women's league following in 2004. The league is administered by [[Water Polo Australia]], and is contested by eleven clubs, each fielding a women's and a men's team. As of 2024 five clubs are based in [[Sydney]] and one each in [[Melbourne]], [[Adelaide]], [[Brisbane]], [[Fremantle]], [[Newcastle, New South Wales|Newcastle]] and [[Perth]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=2024 Australian Waterpolo League Manual |url=https://cdn.revolutionise.com.au/cups/wpal/files/naogkkv0pdfxfwd1.pdf |website=Water Polo Australia}}</ref>

Seasons of the AWL run from January to April and include a 28-round regular [[Season (sports)|season]], followed by a finals series [[Playoffs|playoff]] involving the six highest-placed teams, which culminates in a [[grand final]] match.<ref name=":0" />

== Competition format ==

=== Regular season ===
The regular season runs during the Australian summer, from January to April of each year. The competition consists of 28 rounds, with each team playing every other team twice. Each match sees the teams awarded points based on the following scale: <ref name=":0" />

* Win in Normal Time: four points
* Win in Penalty Shootout: three points
* No result (game cannot be conducted due to uncontrollable factors): two points each
* Loss in Penalty Shootout: one point
* Loss in Normal Time: zero points
* Disqualification/Forfeit: zero points

All games require a result, and as such it is impossible for a game to result in a draw.

At the conclusion of the regular season, the top six placed teams from each of the men's and women's divisions will progress to the finals series, with the position of each team determined by the highest number of points accumulated during the regular season. The remaining four teams are awarded final placings based on the number of points accumulated over the course of the regular season. If two or more teams are level on points, the team which won the game between those two teams will be determined as being higher ranked. If three or more teams are level on points, the following criteria are applied in order until one of the teams can be determined as the higher ranked:<ref name=":0" />

# The points of the games among the tied teams;
# The goal difference (excluding goals from a penalty shootout) among the tied teams;
# Total goals scored among tied teams;
# The games played between the tied teams;
# The results against the highest placed team;
# Toss of a coin.

=== Finals series ===
The top six clubs at the conclusion of the regular season progress to the finals series. The finals series culminates to the Australian Water Polo League grand final, where the winner is crowned AWL champion. The club that wins each grand final is presented with the AWL Champions Trophy.<ref name=":0" />

The finals series consists of six teams who are placed by rank, as determined at the end of the regular season. The finals series runs over four days. In the first day of fixtures, the third-through-sixth ranked teams play a single-elimination match, with the two winners of those matches competing on day two to play off against the loser of the day two match between the first and second ranked teams on Day 3. The two winners of those matches meet in the grand final on Day 4.<ref name=":0" />

==Competition venues==
AWL games are played across a total of 22 approved venues throughout the season. The following venues were accredited for use for the 2024 season.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Pool
!Club
!Location
!Pool Type
! class="unsortable" |Ref.
|-
! colspan="5" |'''New South Wales'''
|-
|Peter Montgomery Pool
|[[Sydney Uni Water Polo Club|Sydney University Lions]]
|[[Sydney|Sydney, NSW]]
|[[Swimming pool|Indoor]]
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sports & Aquatic Centre |url=https://susf.com.au/sports-aquatic-centre/ |access-date=2024-03-23 |website=Sydney Uni Sport & Fitness |language=en-AU}}</ref>
|-
|[[Dawn Fraser Swimming Pool|Dawn Fraser Baths]]
|[[Balmain Water Polo Club|UTS Balmain Tigers]]
|[[Balmain, New South Wales|Balmain, NSW]]
|[[Tide pool|Outdoor Tidal]]
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dawn Fraser Baths - Inner West Council |url=https://www.innerwest.nsw.gov.au/explore/aquatic-centres/dawn-fraser-baths |access-date=2024-03-22 |website=www.innerwest.nsw.gov.au}}</ref>
|-
|Sutherland Leisure Centre
|[[Cronulla Sharks Water Polo Club|ACU Cronulla Sharks]]
|[[Sutherland, New South Wales|Sutherland, NSW]]
| rowspan="4" |[[Lido (swimming pool)|Outdoor]]
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Centres |first=Leisure |date=2023-12-11 |title=Sutherland Leisure Centre |url=https://www.sutherlandshire.nsw.gov.au/subsites/leisure/locations/sutherland-leisure-centre |access-date=2024-03-22 |website=www.sutherlandshire.nsw.gov.au |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|Drummoyne Swimming Centre
|[[Drummoyne Devils]]
|[[Drummoyne|Drummoyne, NSW]]
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.drummoyneswimmingcentre.com.au/ |access-date=2024-03-22 |website=www.drummoyneswimmingcentre.com.au |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|Ashfield Aquatic Centre
|[[UNSW Wests Magpies]] (M)
[[UNSW Killer Whales]] (W)
|[[Ashfield, New South Wales|Ashfield, NSW]]
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ashfield Aquatic Centre - Inner West Council |url=https://www.innerwest.nsw.gov.au/explore/aquatic-centres/ashfield-aquatic-centre |access-date=2024-03-23 |website=www.innerwest.nsw.gov.au}}</ref>
|-
|Lambton Pool
|[[Hunter Hurricanes]]
|[[Newcastle, New South Wales|Newcastle, NSW]]
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lambton Park War Memorial Swimming Centre |url=https://newcastle.nsw.gov.au/about-us/news-and-updates/projects-and-works/lambton-park-war-memorial-swimming-centre |access-date=2024-03-23 |website=NewcastleCorporate |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|[[Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre]]
| rowspan="5" |Neutral
|[[Sydney Olympic Park|Sydney Olympic Park, NSW]]
| rowspan="3" |Indoor
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Aquatic Centre - Venue information {{!}} Sydney Olympic Park |url=https://www.sydneyolympicpark.nsw.gov.au/aquatic-centre/aquatic-centre-venue-information |access-date=2024-03-23 |website=www.sydneyolympicpark.nsw.gov.au |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|Pymble Ladies College Aquatic Centre
|[[Pymble, New South Wales|Pymble, NSW]]
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.pymblelc.nsw.edu.au/swimming/ |access-date=2024-03-23 |website=www.pymblelc.nsw.edu.au}}</ref>
|-
|[[Ryde Aquatic Leisure Centre]]
|[[Ryde, New South Wales|Ryde, NSW]]
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ryde Aquatic Leisure Centre |url=https://www.ryde.nsw.gov.au/RALC |access-date=2024-03-23 |website=www.ryde.nsw.gov.au |language=en-AU}}</ref>
|-
|Auburn Ruth Everuss Aquatic Centre
|[[Auburn, New South Wales|Auburn, NSW]]
| rowspan="2" |Outdoor
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.auburnaquaticcentre.com.au/ |access-date=2024-03-23 |website=www.auburnaquaticcentre.com.au |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|Oasis Aquatic Centre
|[[Wagga Wagga|Wagga Wagga, NSW]]
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Centre |first=Oasis Aquatic |date=2024-03-06 |title=Our Pools |url=https://oasiswagga.com/facilities/pools |access-date=2024-03-23 |website=oasiswagga.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
! colspan="5" |Queensland
|-
|Valley Pool
| rowspan="4" |[[Queensland Thunder|Griffith University Queensland Thunder]]
|[[Fortitude Valley, Queensland|Fortitude Valley, QLD]]
| rowspan="5" |Outdoor
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Valley Pool, Fortitude Valley |url=https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/things-to-see-and-do/outdoor-activities/council-pools/valley-pool-fortitude-valley |access-date=2024-03-23 |website=www.brisbane.qld.gov.au |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|[[All Hallows' School|All Hallows School]]
|[[Brisbane|Brisbane, QLD]]
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Team |first=DCWC |title=All Hallow's School- Consilio Aquatic Centre |url=https://www.dcwc.com.au/projects/all-hallows-school-consilio-aquatic-centre |access-date=2024-03-23 |website=www.dcwc.com.au |language=en-us}}</ref>
|-
|[[Stuartholme School|Stuartholme School Swimming Centre]]
|[[Toowong|Toowong, QLD]]
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Swim Academy Brisbane Register Stuartholme |url=https://www.theswimacademy.com.au/register-stuartholme |access-date=2024-03-23 |website=The Swim Academy Brisbane |language=en-GB}}</ref>
|-
|Musgrave Park Swim Centre
|Brisbane, QLD
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.musgraveparkaquaticcentre.com.au/ |access-date=2024-03-23 |website=www.musgraveparkaquaticcentre.com.au}}</ref>
|-
|Kawana Aquatic Centre
|Neutral
|[[Bokarina, Queensland|Bokarina, QLD]]
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Your Ultimate Destination for Swimming and Fitness |url=https://kawanaaquaticcentre.com.au/ |access-date=2024-03-23 |website=kawanaaquaticcentre.com.au}}</ref>
|-
! colspan="5" |Western Australia
|-
|[[Bicton Baths]]
|[[Fremantle Mariners]] (M)
[[Fremantle Marlins]] (W)
| rowspan="3" |[[Perth|Perth, WA]]
| rowspan="2" |Outdoor
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bicton Baths Reserve |url=https://www.melvillecity.com.au/things-to-do/find-parks-and-reserves/bicton-baths-reserve }}</ref>
|-
|[[Perth High Performance Centre|Perth HPC Aquatic Facility]]
| rowspan="2" |[[UWA Torpedoes]]
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pool Facilities |url=https://www.hbfstadium.com.au/swim/pool-facilities |access-date=2024-03-23 |website=HBF Stadium |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|University of Western Australia Aquatic Centre
|Indoor
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=UWA Aquatic Centre |url=https://www.uwa.edu.au/sport/swim/uwa-aquatic-centre |access-date=2024-03-23 |website=www.uwa.edu.au |language=en}}</ref>
|-
! colspan="5" |Victoria
|-
|[[Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Victorian Phoenix Water Polo Club|Victorian Phoenix]]
|[[Melbourne|Melbourne, VIC]]
| rowspan="2" |Indoor
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=admin |title=Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre – Stages 1, 2 and 3 |url=https://www.otiumplanning.com.au/portfolio-items/melbourne-sports-and-aquatic-centre-stages-one-two-and-three/ |access-date=2024-03-23 |website=Otium Planning |language=en-AU}}</ref>
|-
|[[Caulfield Grammar School]]
|[[Caulfield, Victoria|Caulfield, VIC]]
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Caulfield Aquatics |url=https://www.caulfieldaquatics.com.au/ |access-date=2024-03-23 |language=en-AU}}</ref>
|-
! colspan="5" |South Australia
|-
|[[Adelaide Aquatic Centre]]
|Neutral
|[[Adelaide|Adelaide, SA]]
|Indoor
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Adelaide Aquatic Centre |url=https://adelaideaquaticcentre.com.au/ |access-date=2024-03-23 |website=Adelaide Aquatic Centre |language=en-AU}}</ref>
|}

==Clubs==
The Australian Water Polo League is contested by eleven clubs from across Australia.

* [[Adelaide Jets]]
* [[Balmain Water Polo Club|UTS Balmain Tigers]]
* [[Cronulla Sharks Water Polo Club|Cronulla Sharks]]
* [[Drummoyne Devils]]
* [[Fremantle Mariners]] (M)
* [[Fremantle Marlins]] (W)
* [[Hunter Hurricanes]]
* [[Sydney Uni Water Polo Club|Sydney University Lions]]
* [[UNSW Killer Whales]] (W)
* [[UNSW Wests Magpies]] (M)
* [[UWA Torpedoes]]
* [[Queensland Thunder]]
* [[Victorian Phoenix Water Polo Club|Victorian Phoenix]]

==Men's champions==
As of the conclusion of the 2025 season, 11 different clubs have competed in the men's division of the AWL, with eight having won the championship trophy. UNSW Wests Magpies are the most successful men’s AWL club winning a record 8 championships, including seven out of the last ten years of competition.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Team
!Championships
!Year(s) won
|-
|UNSW Wests Magpies
|8
|2008, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2025
|-
|Fremantle Mariners
|7
|1998, 2000, 2001, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2012
|-
|Victorian Phoenix
|6
|1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 2010, 2013
|-
|Cronulla Sharks
|5
|1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999
|-
|Sydney University Lions
|4
|2002, 2003, 2005, 2018
|-
|Queensland Thunder
|2
|2004, 2007
|-
|Drummoyne Devils
|1
|2024<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=May |first=Katrina |date=28 April 2024 |title=Live stream: Watch Australian Water Polo League finals series |url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/live-streams/water-polo/live-stream-watch-australian-water-polo-league-finals-series/news-story/4ff1336e1d438c40550a7bb24a659d57 |access-date=28 April 2024 |work=Daily Telegraph}}</ref>
|-
|UWA Torpedoes
|1
|2016
|-
|Hunter Hurricanes
|0
|–
|-
|Adelaide Jets
|0
|–
|-
|UTS Balmain Tigers
|0
|–
|}

==Women's champions==
As of the conclusion of the 2024 season, 11 different clubs have competed in the women's division of the AWL, with five having won the championship trophy.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Team
!Championships
!Year(s) won
|-
|Queensland Thunder
|8
|2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2019, 2022, 2024<ref name=":1" />
|-
|Fremantle Marlins
|5
|2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2014
|-
|Sydney University Lions
|3
|2016, 2017, 2023
|-
|Cronulla Sharks
|2
|2006, 2012
|-
|UNSW Wests Killer Whales
|1
|2018
|-
|UWA Torpedoes
|0
|–
|-
|Victorian Phoenix
|0
|–
|-
|Adelaide Jets
|0
|–
|-
|Hunter Hurricanes
|0
|–
|-
|Drummoyne Devils
|0
|–
|-
|UTS Balmain Tigers
|0
|–
|}

== See also ==
{{Portal|Australia|Sports}}
*[[Water polo in Australia]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|https://www.waterpoloaustralia.com.au/}}

{{Australian National Water Polo League winners}}
{{Water polo in Australia}}
{{Sports leagues of Australia}}

[[Category:Water polo competitions in Australia| ]]
[[Category:Women's water polo competitions|Aus]]
[[Category:Water polo leagues in Oceania]]
[[Category:Sports leagues in Australia|Water polo]]
[[Category:1990 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:Sports leagues established in 1990]]
[[Category:Professional sports leagues in Australia]]

Australian Water Polo League - Revision history

86.18.226.253: /* Men's champions */Added content