At only 19-years-old, Zipporah Fish is making her mark on the AFLW.
The Larrakia, Noongar, Wongi, and Nunga woman and Sydney Swans defender is set to play the AFLW's Indigenous round match against Geelong on Saturday.
She'll be wearing number 23, a homage to one of the game's top goal kickers: Swans legend Buddy Franklin.
"Obviously wearing the number 23 like Buddy, it's pretty cool and being able to run out in the Indigenous jersey will be really special too," she said.
Being like Buddy would be something really special. He played like no other. He was one of a kind.
Playing in Indigenous round a 'proud' moment
This year will mark the AFLW's sixth dedicated Indigenous round, something the young star doesn't take lightly.
"It'll be really special to play an Indigenous round," she said.
"It just means that I can represent my culture and I'll be really proud to be out there."
Hailing from Newman, in Western Australia's Pilbara region, Fish's first club was in East Fremantle in the WAFLW.
There she was coached by role model and inaugural Docker player Gabby O'Sullivan.
"I loved the way that she played," Fish said.
"She's always hard at it and she's got great skills so I learnt most of my stuff from her."
Zippy Fish of the Swans is already making waves in the sport. Credit: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images
Turning heads in her first year, her dedication and skill has delivered success including being a Telstra AFLW Round 2 Rising Star nominee.
While Fish acknowledged the honour, she remained humble saying "it was based off the team's performance".
"I feel like I put in all the hard work and set myself up really well in the junior years to come in and I guess be ready for that next level," she said.
With a bright future ahead, she's made a home at the Swans - already getting a nickname.
"The nickname that's probably stuck is Zippy," she laughed.
"There's a T-shirt in the change room that they've gone and bought [with it on it], so yeah that's probably stuck."
The Sydney Swans will take on Geelong Cats at BMHBA Stadium, on Wadawurrung Country, this Saturday.
