#38 Josaia Delana (Cat B selection, 2024 Rookie Draft)

[Giant Strides]

Welcome to another GWS Academy graduate, this time from Western Sydney ...

Josaia Delana​

GWS Academy / Allies
Height: 176cm
D.O.B: 01-07-2006
Leagues: AFL U18 Championships, Coates Talent League Boys

STRENGTHS:

• Agility
• Defensive pressure
• Ground balls
• Run-and-carry

IMPROVEMENTS:

• Production
• Size

Giants Academy captain Josaia Delana is a prospect for Greater Western Sydney to consider as a club-tied talent. The diminutive midfielder-forward injects great energy to every passage he is involved in, boasting a wicked turn of speed and noted attacking instincts.

As expected of a 176cm player, he is effective at ground level with his ability to swoop on loose balls and make things happen inside 50. He also applies himself defensively and showed as much with a whopping 12 tackles against Western Australia at the Under 18 National Championships.

Delana's size is the obvious drawback on paper, though he held his own throughout eight VFL appearances this season, having debuted in 2023. He even kicked the winning goal against Casey in Round 18 and proved his value as a pressure forward.

 

[Mors]

Small, lots of tackles, run and carry... Is this Toby Bedford

14

Toby Bedford

Age

25

Ht

179cm

Wt

75kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

8.0

2star

K

2.0

1star

HB

6.0

4star

M

1.0

1star

T

2.0

4star

CL

0.0

1star

D

8.0

2star

K

2.0

1star

HB

6.0

3star

M

1.0

1star

T

2.0

3star

CL

0.0

1star

D

8.0

2star

K

2.0

1star

HB

6.0

4star

M

1.0

1star

T

2.0

4star

CL

0.0

1star

2.0?

 

[captainMyCaptain]

 

[Giant Strides]

Some before & after footage ... some comments from January 2024 at the start of his draft season.

 

[Giant Strides]

Josaia Delana: It feels so surreal

Hear from GIANTS Rookie Josaia Delana.

www.gwsgiants.com.au

 

[Orangeutan]

Josaia Delana: It feels so surreal

Hear from GIANTS Rookie Josaia Delana.

www.gwsgiants.com.au

This kid is very likeable.

 

[Giant Strides]

 

[Giant Strides]

Homegrown Giants rookie inspired by Folau experiment

Growing up in rugby league heartland, Greater Western Sydney rookie Josaia Delana remembers discovering the game through code-hopper Israel Folau

www.afl.com.au

ASK AFL rookie Josaia Delana how his journey with Greater Western Sydney started and he'll tell you it began with rugby league player Israel Folau. In 2012, a six-year-old Delana growing up in a Fijian family in Western Sydney, witnessed NRL star Folau playing Australian rules football. The Giants, then a fledgling AFL club, had embarked on the giant task of winning over fans in rugby league heartland and resorted to unorthodox methods.

"When GWS first started out I had known them because of Israel Folau going from rugby league to AFL. I was like, 'Why would he do that sort of thing? Like, he doesn't even know how to play AFL. What a weird sport.' It was never big anywhere. None of my friends at school, none of my family, no one in the neighbourhood, in the community, no one watched or played AFL. Even now to put footy on at home on a Friday night, I'd get in early so I could watch at least the first quarter and then it would be overruled by league."

"It's a real surreal feeling from being just some kid that was just kicking the ball at the park to now an AFL-listed player," Delana told AAP.

 

[Giant YoYo]

 

[Giant Strides]

Named to debut in the first local derby in 2025.

Congrats, Joey, hope you have a blinder!

 

[Ichabod Noodle]

4th?

Nick Shipley
Jake Stein
Kieran Briggs
James Peatling

Joey Delana

I count 5

Congrats on the call-up. Have a great debut.

 

[Giant Strides]

4th?

Nick Shipley
Jake Stein
Kieran Briggs
James Peatling

Joey Delana

I count 5

Congrats on the call-up. Have a great debut.

Jake Stein wasn't an academy grad.

 

[Giant Strides]

Western Sydney Teenager To Make AFL Debut In Sydney Derby XXX

The GIANTS will unearth a debutant in Sunday’s massive Sydney Derby against the Swans.

www.gwsgiants.com.au

Exciting draftee Josaia Delana will make his AFL debut this weekend after being named for the club’s blockbuster Sydney Derby clash with the Swans at the SCG on Sunday.

Hailing from Western Sydney, Delana is an electric small forward of Fijian descent who has forced his way into Adam Kingsley

Adam Kingsley

Age

50

Ht

183cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

16.9

4star

K

11.5

4star

HB

5.4

4star

M

4.1

4star

T

1.3

3star

No current season stats available

D

16.4

4star

K

10.4

4star

HB

6.0

4star

M

3.0

3star

T

1.0

3star

’s side following a consistent run of strong form in the club’s undefeated VFL side. Delana joined the club as a category B Rookie in last year’s draft following strong performances for the Allies as well as performing well across eight games in the club’s VFL side.

A graduate of the GIANTS Academy, the 18-year-old plays with an infectious flair and energy and will no doubt quickly become a fan-favourite of the Orange Army. Possessing clean hands, a great desire to tackle, and an explosive sidestep, Delana is a team-first small forward who has continued to impress throughout his first few months at the club.

The fourth player that the GIANTS have drafted from Western Sydney, Delana’s upcoming AFL debut caps off a brilliant story after the youngster didn’t pick up a Sherrin until the age of 13.