So who will win the Worlds this year? Vote...

[TheMasterG]

... in the new Polls forum (http://www.canoepolo.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=17) :D

[conor]

If the following extracts from another thread is anything to go by there will be only one winner....


In return for some liberal paddle use by Lochrist, the Aussies decided that the best way in getting the ball from the other team was to crunch their way through the boats.

Mark decided that turning the opposition into submarines was still the way to go, and continued to show his toughness. This was followed up by a smashing tackle from Duncan Cochrane, which sent splinters of fibre glass flying into the
crowd.


The rest of us will be left playing water polo!!!

[p.oleary]

Gee

I hope the ref's in that match wore some form of eye protection because flying fibre glass is dangerous and we wouldn't want the ref's attention distracted by something in his eye. Otherwise how would they protect the players and there equipment and ref a fair game.

Seriously

The segment quoted by Conor is sad. It does nothing for the sport to air sameless damaging of other peoples boats in a public forum. Reading that and knowing what a new boat costs would you want to play against a team like that. If thats the attitude at the top of the sport people will realise that and play in that manner if they are so inclined or not at all if they value their money. I'm sure the game got out of hand and there ended up being fault on all sides but surely there is a better place to discuss this like with the referee and the competition organiser

Patrick:(

[p.oleary]

Incidentally

I just noticed in the aussie thread they sayNever forget - Canoe Polo is for everyone - Beginners to the Elite.

Ironic given they comments about setting out to damage the opposition. Thats great example from the elite to the beginners:confused:

[RB-Ex-MrPolo]

The Australian national teams play to win! We have always played hard. Actually, at home we play even harder ! (In the original ICF rules we conceded taking out our 90degree tackles - which, when you have two tacklers on opposite sides can provide a spectacular result)

But we build kayaks to take the heat! Remember, our guys will have played 3 international competitions in these kayaks even before they get to Essen, plus endless training in Europe. With no spare kayaks to be had at the last minute. No asking our sponsor to just send over a few spare kayaks when we break some!

Seems you guys haven't got the message yet that every possible legal advantage must be used to win. Pure agression has it's place in a World Championships. What doesn't have it's place is inferior equipment, or a less than full-on commitment and attitude.

Remember, we want this to be a spectator sport. Absolute man-on-man contest is a great part of what it's about.

Probably why Australia do so well in so many sports.

And you won't find anyone friendlier after the game than the Aussie teams. And willing to help pretty much anyone who want's to learn about how to go about winning, instead of worrying about building the very latest lightest kayaks.
But equally, I'm sure our teams have plenty to learn about skill and finesse too.

Why not contribute to the thread What do you think of each team's style of play. (http://www.canoepolo.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=499)

As to keeping the problem hidden! That just leads to behind closed doors dirty deals. Discuss it out in the open every time.

[RB-Ex-MrPolo]

In the voting, the 3 favourites for the women's comp are Australia, Netherlands, Germany. But the draw ensures that all 3 will not be on the podium. One of them will finish no higher than 9th , courtesy of the stupid ICF draw. (I just pray it's not Australia!!!) Meanwhile two of Japan, Canada and newcomers Spain, Denmark and Italy will finish in the top 8!

No offence meant to Japan, but Japan pretty much concedes their 4th ranking above Australia is an absurdity from the Brazil draw. As they keep inviting our women's team over to coach their team !

ICF Polo committeee stuffed-shirts are too "diplomatic" to make the change "in a hurry" (Read wait for 20 years or so!!!). Meanwhile the problem just gets worse. One of these 3 top teams will probably finish 9th. So in 2004 will probably be drawn again against the 1st and 5th placed teams, whilst another group will have the 4th, 8th and 12th teams!! Nuts, no other way of describing it.

Anyone got any ideas how we can get the ICF Polo stuffed-shirts to pull their fingers out and fix this plainly stupid problem.

[RB-Ex-MrPolo]

Originally posted by p.oleary
Incidentally

I just noticed in the aussie thread they say
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Never forget - Canoe Polo is for everyone - Beginners to the Elite.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ironic given they comments about setting out to damage the opposition. Thats great example from the elite to the beginners:confused:

Perhaps I should amend my signature to -
Canoe Polo is for everyone - Beginners to the Elite, but not the faint-hearted!

[p.oleary]

What I'm supposed to be impressed by the quality of your boats because they last a whole month and are still fit to play in in the world championships. Give me a break.

Anyway I'm all for playing within the rules to the full advantage of the rules but what you described regarding the game in Acigne did not even claim to be within the rules it was a description of gratuitous violence. I have always admired the Aussies uncomprimising style of play I feel the description of this game gives the wrong impression for the motivation behind your style of play "revenge rather than just trying to do it all to win" The second is acceptable but when you cross the line to the first it reflects badly on yourself and the game.

Having said all that with good refereeing in Essen things should not get out of hand and there should be no need for retaliation.

I wish all of the Aussies the best with your never back off style

Patrick

[RB-Ex-MrPolo]

Please switch to the thread What do you think of each team's style of play. (http://www.canoepolo.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=499)

[RB-Ex-MrPolo]

More onthe idea that at least one of three favourites, Australia, Germany or Netherlands, must finish at least as low as 9th in the Women's comp.

Where will that leave them in regard to qualifying for the 1995 World Games, when only 6 teams are permitted!!!! It could leave them feeling very, very sore about this ridiculous draw.

[Samba]

You should win every match to be the best, even if the most difficult ones are the first.
This year the draw was good to us, it has never before been
that way.
I think the draw gives a bit motivation to the not so good teams.
Anyway, if you want to be the best, you have to win every game.

-Samba

[Patrick]

Samba,

While the best (champion) should win every game I think the point here is that the second best should play the best and lose in the championship game and not in a semi-final or quarterfinal.

[RB-Ex-MrPolo]

The World Championships is not just about the ONE best team in each category. Every team goes there to do their best, to improve their ranking, to have some good tough games.

In the Women's comp, it's just possible that on recent performances, Germany, Australia and Netherlands are the best 3 teams. But one of these teams - And I'm praying it's not Australia - has to finish 9th or lower. Without any chnace to play the other 6 teams which are going to be ranked above them according to the results of this competition. After their second game they could be finished, with only relatively easy consolation games to play. You think that's fair, when players from across the world have paid perhaps $5,000 each to be there ???.

If this was random, luck of the draw, then this might just be acceptable. But it's not. 2 of the 5 top ranked teams are put into the same group deliberately. Why ??

Don't just sit back and accept stupid ideas from ICF Polo. If you do, then don't expect the sport to continue growing.

[jelle]

I think the poll on the womens isn't wright.... The Dutch would likely not end up on the podium even if they were not in such a hard pool, (I think Germany and Australia (about the last one I'm not that sure) are the two strongest teams in the womens competition) because they had to beat France and Great Brittan as wel, and looking ad past results their place would be 5th. So it’s a real pitty that they probably will not encounter them to play for the 3rd place because those would be the interesting games for them. Instead the 3rd of their pool will play some games for the 9th, witch they will all win easely. No need to say that I hope they will beat Germany or Australia tomorow (Tuesday) and kick one of those two to the 9th place.....

Assuming that the following is wright:

No offence meant to Japan, but Japan pretty much concedes their 4th ranking above Australia is an absurdity from the Brazil draw.

[jelle]

Seems I was a little pessemistic about the Women from The Netherlands. Indeed they lost from Australia and Germany, but those to games we're both close calls, so i've heard. It's a pitty that they are (if australia or Germany don't make any stupid mistakes) out of the race....

Anyway: WELL DON GIRLS, MY COMPLIMENTS

[RB-Ex-MrPolo]

The Dutch girls could be the 3rd best team in the World. But we won't know from this World Championships. And for the next they will be ranked 9th at best, as result of this stupid draw!!

We need to do something about this.

Please check the discussions on the need for a better draw system, at http://www.canoepolo.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=515

Or go direct to sign the petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/Polo1/petition.html

And please, promote it to all your friends in canoe polo. Maybe get the Dutch women's team to print it out and paste it up at the Championships. Can anyone translate it into Dutch and paste it up on the main Dutch Canoe Polo websites and forums. Or any other places, in any other languages.

Please, don't just sit back and feel sad about it. Do something to stop it happening again to someone, before 2004. Or the Dutch team might unfairly miss out on the 2005 World Games, which will be for the top 6 teams only.

[p.oleary]

I saw those games yesterday The Dutch Ladies played very well and worried both the Germans and the Aussies. They were one goal down in the German match in thed second half and had to chase it but lost by more as a result. In the game versus the aussies they were awesome and were 5:4 up with time running out but conceded two late goals to lose by the odd goal. Having seen the games it just highlighted to me the unfairness of the draw not only on the Netherlands who now lose very important ranking places but also on the Germans and Aussies who in fairness should not have had such tough games so early in the compeition

Having said all that I think the Germans have the edge from what I saw yesterday though the Aussies probably have something left in the tank given some missed opportunities
Patrick:wavey: