CRESCENT Head’s Sam McGregor starred as the Australian men’s water polo team beat Greece in their Olympic opener at Yingdong Natatorium in Beijing on Sunday.

McGregor scored a hat trick in the 12-8 win.

The Sharks came from 7-6 then 8-7 down to beat the Greeks with a dominant second half display.

The performance should give the side a huge boost heading into today’s match against European heavyweights Spain.

McGregor was on song early for the Aussies, shooting at just under 50 per cent in a roving role up front.

And in another pool, the Macleay Valley’s Leith Brodie swam one leg as Australia’s 4 x 100m men’s relay team set a new Commonwealth record.

Competing at his second Olympics, McGregor had previously said the current men’s water polo team was the best he had been a part of and were a strong chance of a medal in China.

The 192cm, 95kg giant celebrates his 24th birthday today and a win against the Spanish would be the perfect gift.

q CRESCENT Head’s Leith Brodie made his first swim at the Chinese National Aquatic Centre a memorable one as the Australian 4 x 100m men’s freestyle relay team set a new Commonwealth record on Sunday.

The Australian team of Pat Murphy, Matt Targett, Andrew Lauterstein and Brodie went under the world record in the heat, but qualified only third for yesterday’s final, with the US and France finishing faster still.

Brodie swam the second leg for the Aussies, who looked in trouble early in the race, but stormed home to claim a finals berth in a national record of 3min.12.41s, a time 0.05s under the previous world record set by the US at the 2006 Pan Pacific Championships in Canada.

Anchor Matt Targett swam a blistering final 100m to touch just behind the USA’s Matt Grevers as the Americans clocked 3min.12.23s to set a new world record in the event. If that wasn’t enough, the fast-flying French almost pinched the record in the very next heat, finishing in a time of 3min.12.36s.

The record breaking swims proved just how fast the Beijing Pool is as all three of the teams that went under the previous world record supposedly had second-string outfits racing.

Brodie wasn’t required for yesterday’s final, won by the US in world record time (Australia was third), but he will receive a bronze medal for being a member of the team.

His next event is likely to be the 4 x 200m freestyle relay heats this afternoon before he swims in the heats of the 200m individual medley on Wednesday.