RICHMOND CUP FINALS
Richmond Cup 2025 Concludes in Spectacular Style
The Richmond Cup 2025 wrapped up on Sunday with an exhilarating afternoon of men's finals, capping off a tournament that celebrated the full spectrum of Richmond Water Polo talent. This year’s competition featured all four teams and showcased a dynamic mix of Club stalwarts, athletes with experience in the National League, Australian Water Polo League, Australia Cup, and senior state competitions (SL1 to SL5), along with our rising stars – junior players already integrated into the senior men’s program and fresh from competing at the NSC and AYC.
The day kicked off with the third-place playoff: Wildcats vs Leopards. The Leopards entered as favourites with a 2-1 record, but the Wildcats delivered a dominant performance to take the win 22-15. The game was a crowd favourite, full of big plays, intense one-on-one battles, and even a father-son showdown.
The main event of the afternoon, the Grand Final: Jaguars vs Panthers, more than lived up to the hype. With a long history of close matches, anticipation was high. The Jaguars came out strong, building a 5-goal lead by the third quarter. But the Panthers launched a late surge, cutting the lead to just one goal with 90 seconds remaining. In a nail-biting finish, the Jaguars held on to claim the title 15-13.
Congratulations to Captain Tom Post for leading his team to the championship. And a special shout-out to Tony Camarera, the only dual Richmond Cup winner in club history. His draft value for next year? Absolutely priceless.
Earlier in the week, our Women’s Richmond Cup Final saw the Sumatrans take on the Bengals. Despite a tough lead-in with injuries and illness, both sides delivered a match of incredible quality. The standard was among the highest we’ve seen, with the Sumatrans powering through to a 16-4 victory.
Huge congratulations to Maddie Marshall, who captained the Sumatrans throughout the season and was deservedly named MVP.
A big thank you to our amazing organising committee – Bill B, Matt L, Tony R, Andrew P, Alex P, Courtney, Beth, Robyn and Spindles – for making this competition happen.
To everyone behind the scenes – from scoring and table duties, to setting up and packing down the pool, to refereeing matches – thank you. Your effort and dedication make this event possible, and we’re incredibly grateful for your support.
To our generous sponsors – CSA, Smile Solutions and Grill’d – thank you for backing the programs that help our water polo community thrive.
And to all the players who took part – thank you. To the experienced athletes who mentor the next generation, and to the younger players stepping up with energy and potential – you are the spirit of this competition.
We’re already counting down to next year. Richmond Cup 2026 is coming – and it’s going to be bigger, bolder and even more unforgettable.
Go Tigers!