The Power has added twins to its growing inaugural AFLW list – and Port fans will instantly recognise their famous surname
Their four uncles have all walked the halls of Alberton. Now twins Laquoiya and Litonya can’t wait to follow in the family footsteps.
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Teenage twins with a deep family connection to Port Adelaide have become the latest in a string of footballers to join the Power’s inaugural women’s team.
Talented 19-year-old Queenslanders, Laquoiya and Litonya Cockatoo-Motlap – nieces of former Power forward Che Cockatoo-Collins – will officially sign on as Port players when the AFLW’s sign and trade period opens in the coming weeks.
Born in Cairns and now based on the Gold Coast, the twins were introduced to football aged 14 through school programs and went on to play for Queensland in the state’s under-18 representative side and have been involved with the Gold Coast Sun’s AFLW Academy.
While Litonya is a defender across halfback, Laquoiya plays in the forward pocket like her uncle, Che, who kicked 106 goals from 75 games in the Power jumper from 1999-2003.
The Cockatoo-Motlap connection to Port Adelaide is not only through their Uncle Che, but all their uncles on their mother’s side.
Laquoiya said: “All my mother’s brothers – Uncle Che, Uncle David and Uncle Donald all played for Port Adelaide in the SANFL, and Uncle Jason Cockatoo.
“We have a strong family history with the club and for my sister and I, it just made sense to continue our family’s legacy … our uncles are like father figures to us.”
Uncle David and Uncle Donald, like their nieces, are twins and both went on to play a handful of games for Melbourne in the AFL after stints with the Magpies in the SANFL.
Uncle Che also played 85 games for Essendon from 1994-1998.
Litonya said for her and her sister to be the first girls in their family to head to Alberton was something they were exceptionally proud of.
“Family is really important to us and I think it’s really special now that my sister and I are the first girls in our family to get picked for Port Adelaide,” Litonya said.
“My twin uncles got drafted together so we’re lucky that we both got picked up together as well.
“We’re actually still pinching ourselves.”
The footballers are proud Aboriginal women, with Yupungatti, Gangalidda and Kuku-Yalanji mobs on their mother’s side and Mbarbarum/Ngadjon on their father’s.
Laquoiya said the sisters were excited to join Port Adelaide, in part, because of the club’s Indigenous programs.
“I’ve heard that Port has a strong Indigenous program, and it makes me feel excited and happy that our club will have an understanding of the importance of culture,” she said.
“For me, being connected to the community is important.
“We’ve always taken part in our community through our parents and the work they do and to be a part of a club that acknowledges the contribution of our people is amazing.
“We’re both proud to be a part of this club.”
The duo take the number of players who have committed to Port’s historic first women’s team to seven, alongside experienced stars including Erin Phillips (Crows), Angela Foley (Crows) and Gemma Houghton (Fremantle).
More players are expected to be announced this week as Port builds its squad of 30.
Power head coach Lauren Arnell said both players had accomplished kicks and were balanced offensively.
“When the ball turns over, they’ve got great ability to get the ball back, plus they’re fierce with their tackling, which we love here at Port Adelaide,” she said.
“Litonya is more of a halfback who offers good pressure defensively, while Laquoiya is a creative forward.
“While right now they’re both at different ends of the ground, they offer similar traits so we’re really looking forward to them bringing a lot to our club.”
Port’s head of AFLW Juliet Haslam said it was an honour to bring two more footballers into the program whose connections ran so deep to the club’s history.
“We value care and connection at Port Adelaide, and we can already see those qualities in Laquoiya and Litonya,” she said.
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