Essendon draftee Isaac Kako reveals family sacrifice that helped shape AFL dream

Isaac Kako has paid tribute to his family’s sacrifice in order to give him and his siblings a better life, as the small forward becomes the only current AFL player of Iraqi heritage.

Essendon’s new first-round draftee Isaac Kako has paid tribute to the remarkable sacrifices of his family to give him and his siblings a better life after his father left Iraq in 1999 after serving a decade in the Iraqi army.

Kako is the only player of Iraqi heritage in the AFL as the league encourages clubs to put time and effort into a more diverse competition more representative of Australia’s multicultural life.

The NGA academy player has been linked to Essendon’s academy since he was 13 and was born in Australia after parents Laith and Samiya left Iraq along with his two older sisters Lisa and Ledia.

The 18-year-old is the youngest of five siblings with older brothers Elliot 33 and Bronel 23, and is determined to celebrate his heritage as an inspiration for the Iraqi juniors who typically follow friends into soccer instead of AFL football.

Kako was the first pick by Essendon in the 2024 draft. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Laith was able to escape Iraq ahead of the second conflict with America in a country that endured the 1991 Gulf War then the US invasion in 2003 that saw the Iraqi Army disbanded only months later.

“Dad was in the Iraqi army for ten years and after the war finished he left to try to find a better life and ended up here. They went through a few countries to try to get here, they applied to a few others like Canada and America and then they got here,” Kako told the Herald Sun.

“I could have been an NFL running back! Everything they have done has pushed me to work harder and not waste the better life they gave me. (Dad’s background) is pretty unique but we try not too speak too much about it, it’s not amazing being in a war. He runs a business with my brother now sanding and finishing floorboards.

“It is a rarity (to be playing football from an Iraqi background.) Most of my mates play soccer and I genuinely know of no other footy players even locally. Hopefully I can be a role model to other kids so they can pick up a Sherrin. I feel like (more diversity in the AFL) is really important. The game has definitely become more diverse in recent years so hopefully it keeps going. It’s an amazing game and everyone deserves to play it.”

Kako said his links to the Essendon academy helped drive him as he played football at local club Northern Saints, Coates League side Calder Cannons and school football at Parade College.

But when the AFL ruled mid-year that Victorian clubs could match bids for NGA players no matter how early they went in the draft it meant he was guaranteed of playing for Essendon given his exceptional talent.

The club eventually matched a Richmond bid for him at pick 13 after trading out its future first-rounder for the Demons 2025 first-round pick but the mid-season ruling gave him certainty.

The Kako family at the draft. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“I think my brother sent (the ruling) to me and to be honest over the moon,” he said of the late July rule change.

“The chance of me going out of state was pretty scary, and to get drafted to the team I grew up barracking for is amazing.

“It’s a really tight knit family so I am really happy I got to stay here. My mum was definitely over the moon. She was loving it. So was everyone else. My brothers and dad were really happy I got to stay home.

“I feel like every draftee’s goal is to play as early as possible so I will do everything I can to push my name forward for round 1 and I can’t wait to put in the work.”

Originally published as Essendon draftee Isaac Kako reveals family sacrifice that helped shape AFL dream