Player Watch Zipporah Fish - 2025 AFLW Rising Star

[Ticky009]

At #5 the Swans have selected West Australian Zippy Fish

 

[Kiama Chris]

Welcome aboard Zippy. Look forward to seeing you out on the paddock next year.

 

[Ticky009]

 

[Ticky009]

 

[Ticky009]

 

[Callipygian]

Why can't I view any of these X tweets? I think it's to do with my settings. sataris would probably know.

 

[joeykanga]

Why can't I view any of these X tweets? I think it's to do with my settings. sataris would probably know.

I only just saw Zippy's video highlights...wow seriously quick off the mark and in little space, great step, and fast and quick offloads with both feet and hands.
At the combine she was first in agility, second in the 20m sprint, fifth in the 2km time trial, equal-fifth in the running vertical jump, and sixth in the standing vertical jump, despite standing at just 160cm.
I can't wait to see her combine with Sophia Hurley...some serious pace of ball movement. Is she our only indigenous footballer. So pleased to have her at the Swans

 

[joeykanga]

I only just saw Zippy's video highlights...wow seriously quick off the mark and in little space, great step, and fast and quick offloads with both feet and hands.
At the combine she was first in agility, second in the 20m sprint, fifth in the 2km time trial, equal-fifth in the running vertical jump, and sixth in the standing vertical jump, despite standing at just 160cm.
I can't wait to see her combine with Sophia Hurley...some serious pace of ball movement. Is she our only indigenous footballer. So pleased to have her at the Swans

Oh and she says lucky for her she's fast otherwise her name would be awkward

 

[Callipygian]

It's awesome to get a genuine top player with our top pick. Probably getting a top 3 player with pick 5. Too good to let her go past even if some of us (like me) were wanting someone taller. Maybe she was hoping to go to a Melbourne club but hopefully she settles in and loves it here. I think she'll prefer our weather.

 

[Callipygian]

Family is a big part of who I am and where I am now. - Fish

Hear from Sydney Swans AFLW 2024 Draftee Zippy Fish as she shares what excites her most about making the big move to Sydney and what she can bring to the squad.

www.sydneyswans.com.au

Swans land quick, clean Zippy with top five pick

Highly-touted West Australian midfielder Zipporah Fish will make the move east to the Sydney Swans after going at pick five in the AFLW draft on Monday night.The 18-year-old comes with a proven pedigr...

nit.com.au

Zippy is a "Larrakia, Wongi, Noongar and Nunga woman" according to this article: https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl...-names-in-the-aflw-draft-20241205-p5kw2g.html

 

[joeykanga]

Can't wait to see her play.

 

[Callipygian]

I was curious about which number Zippy would take. #1 was vacated by Lochland. She was wearing #4 last year (can't remember if that was for club or State or both). But actually Zippy has the superstar #23!

Seeing her run around today I was really impressed. Immaculate disposal - really assured and composed, doesn't rush, finds a target, has great awareness of the other bodies around her and great confidence in her ability to evade them. She also ran hard and, especialy in the second half, did a lot of defensive running some of which really paid off - never more so that when she got back to mark near the goal line when there was nobody else in cooee. I was really pleased and impressed with her performance. I was slightly concerned about her diminuitive stature - but not any more. Great get (early doors).

 

[joeykanga]

I was curious about which number Zippy would take. #1 was vacated by Lochland. She was wearing #4 last year (can't remember if that was for club or State or both). But actually Zippy has the superstar #23!

Seeing her run around today I was really impressed. Immaculate disposal - really assured and composed, doesn't rush, finds a target, has great awareness of the other bodies around her and great confidence in her ability to evade them. She also ran hard and, especialy in the second half, did a lot of defensive running some of which really paid off - never more so that when she got back to mark near the goal line when there was nobody else in cooee. I was really pleased and impressed with her performance. I was slightly concerned about her diminuitive stature - but not any more. Great get (early doors).

She's going to be special

 

[Callipygian]

How did I omit to mention THAT goal?? (I think the answer is that I was distracted and not paying attention and missed who kicked it.}

 

[Ticky009]

Its not as if we weren't already excited by the hype - but the reality is SO much better. 549 meters gained on debut & over 300 of that in the first half. Takes the kick ins on debut if you don't mind and kills it like a pro.

 

[Kiama Chris]

Outstanding debut. Nailed the kick-ins deep and flat that opened up the game a number of times, a terrific interception and very busy with and without the ball.

 

[Callipygian]

Outstanding debut, exactly consistent with how she's played all pre-season. Apart from her exceptional running ability, she is an immaculate ball user, super clean with her hands and knows where and how to position herself and read the ball. In addition to all of that, on Friday night she applied herself defensively including by tackling much larger players and by running courageously with the flight to intercept when there were other players incoming. She also had a lightning quick handball for when she took possession under pressure. Her disposals weren't just abundant, they were so damaging! She had way more kicks than anyone else on the ground (including Mon Conti). Absolute gun. Absolutely killed her debut game.

 

[Callipygian]

I just thought I would re-post the first time I mentioned Zippy on this board (Feb 2024) and Jewelsbon 's heartfelt response:

This post is especially for JHWF: you should acquaint yourself with a player called Zippy Fish. Not only is she quick, but with a name like that, what's not to love? She's a good chance of getting drafted this year - she's in the AFL Academy and from WA.

Zippy Fish, what a name!!!! That's the best name EVER

I think I owe Zippy an apology though - I rather undersold her when I said she was "a good chance" of getting drafted. Turned out she may have been the rightful #1 pick.

Incidentally I heard discussion somewhere that within the club other players are calling her "Zippy Yaya" (pronounced "yar-yar"). So glad we got her!

 

[Callipygian]

About time!

 

[liz]

Ball-winning Swan earns well-deserved Rising Star nod

Zippy Fish is the Telstra AFLW Rising Star nominee for round two

www.afl.com.au

If she was maybe a little hard done by last week, this week would have been daylight robbery. Happily, law and order remains in place.

 

[Ticky009]

 

[Big Blood]

She does everything. Breaks lines, lays tackles, takes intercept marks and kicks it like Errol. A human highlights reel.

 

[liz]

It’s been her ability to drift across, or stand in a hole, and take intercept marks that has surprised me the most. Or rather, not so much her ability to do so but her willingness. While in the men’s game, at least at the elite level, it’s a given that you go when it’s your turn, it’s an element of the game that many of the women, especially the smaller ones are still getting to grips with.

I guess it is a combination of skill and willingness to risk being clobbered from any direction. Some of the female players dont reliably know how to enter a marking contest - timing, body positioning - to give themselves a chance to mark or at least contest and not to do so crudely and give away frees.

Zippy seems to have it down pat.

 

[joeykanga]

It’s been her ability to drift across, or stand in a hole, and take intercept marks that has surprised me the most. Or rather, not so much her ability to do so but her willingness. While in the men’s game, at least at the elite level, it’s a given that you go when it’s your turn, it’s an element of the game that many of the women, especially the smaller ones are still getting to grips with.

I guess it is a combination of skill and willingness to risk being clobbered from any direction. Some of the female players dont reliably know how to enter a marking contest - timing, body positioning - to give themselves a chance to mark or at least contest and not to do so crudely and give away frees.

Zippy seems to have it down pat.

She's so well balanced when she intercepts and has her arms outstretched rather than chest intercepts. Its like she wouldn't disturb a feather with how light she catches and lands. Shes no bull in a china shop.

 

[SwansProudly]

Rising Swans star Zippy Fish has taken the AFLW by storm — thanks in part to her father Troy and the sacrifice he has made to join her in Sydney.

The biggest thing that I wanted to see was for her to grow as a person, and that’s definitely come through in leaps and bounds.
It’s every department that has made her grow. Every connection at the club helps to shape Zippy, what she’ll be when she leaves the club into retirement, whatever stage that’ll be. So, that’s really important for me as a parent.”