Tunisha Kikoak signs with Fremantle AFLW as replacement player

A Tassie rising star has earned an unexpected AFLW shot after one of the competition’s best players announced she will sit out 2024. Here’s why the young gun stood out to her new club.

Tunisha Kikoak in action during an under-23 All Stars game. Photo: AFL Photos via Getty Images.

A rising Tassie footy star has got the ultimate early birthday president.

North Launceston and Old Scotch Collegians product Tunisha Kikoak has signed on with Fremantle as a replacement player after Dockers gun Kiara Bowers announced she would miss the 2024 season due to her pregnancy.

Kikoak, who will turn 19 on May 12, earned her shot after dominant form in the Coates Talent League for the Tassie Devils.

Fremantle AFLW list manager Darryn Fry credited the way the young gun had responded after out on a shot via the draft last year.

“It was quite an emotional response from Tunisha, when speaking of her initial disappointment. There was a burn in the belly for her, after missing out in the AFLW Draft in 2023,” Fry said in a statement on the Fremantle website.

“She continued working hard and focused on areas where she felt she needed to improve.

“Upon Turbo’s announcement, we focused on Tunisha as a player of interest, and we watched her play a number of games during the early stages of the 2024 season.”

Kikoak in action for the Devils. Photo: AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Fry said there were several features to Kikoak’s game which stood out to her new club.

“Against the GWV Rebels a fortnight ago, Tunisha was dominant on field, playing in the ruck, with some strong aerial contests,” he said.

“Tunisha’s strong in the contest. 23 of those 26 possessions were contested, and her follow up at the ruck contest is something that also caught our eye, but we also feel she has attributes to be pretty versatile and play across all three lines.

“To bring in someone with height who has the athletic attributes that Tunisha has, we feel adds that depth to our list.

“Clearly, we are not replacing like-for-like – we know how important ‘Turbo’ has been to our program, but an opportunity to bring another younger player onto our list, alongside Holly (Ifould) who we drafted, is really exciting.”

A move to Western Australia is now on the cards with Fremantle’s pre-season to start on June 3.

Originally published as Tunisha Kikoak signs with Fremantle AFLW as replacement player