Thursday Island’s Mistee Sagigi awarded prestigious Troy Clarke scholarship
Thursday Island sensation Mistee Sagigi has been awarded the 2024 Troy Clarke Scholarship.
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Thursday Island sensation Mistee Sagigi has been awarded the 2024 Troy Clarke Scholarship.
The scholarship recognises young athletes from regional Queensland who embody the qualities of dedication, passion and respect — values that the late Troy Clarke (AFL Queensland Hall of Famer and former Brisbane Bears player) upheld throughout his football career.
The scholarship will support Sagigi, a Gold Coast Suns academy prospect, in further developing her football skills, education and personal growth.
Sagigi’s journey into Australian rules football began through the AFL Cape York development program at Tagai State College on Thursday Island.
It was quickly evident that she possessed natural talent and exceptional athleticism, which, coupled with her determination, distinguished her from the outset.
She was selected for the Suns academy squad for the 2024 Under-16 Marsh AFL national development championships, where she competed against the Sydney Swans academy, the Brisbane Lions academy, and Western Australia.
In August 2024, Sagigi achieved Queensland honours when she was chosen to represent the state at the national school sport Australia championships.
She was also one of 38 Indigenous players selected for the AFL’s 2024 Woomeras program and plays for the Cape York Crusaders.
AFL Cape York development co-ordinator Kieran Sciberras commended Sagigi’s remarkable progress.
“Mistee’s rise to such a high level of representative football demonstrates that there is a genuine pathway for young people from remote Far North Queensland to reach elite AFL levels,” he said.
“She has made incredible progress in such a short time, and with no regular competitions on Thursday Island, her success makes us even prouder.”
Sciberras also noted the significance of the absence of AFL fields on Thursday Island, which further highlights Sagigi’s achievement.
“Mistee is highly driven, consistently putting in extra hours. She is a natural leader and an excellent role model for the young people who look up to her on the island.”
Originally published as Thursday Island’s Mistee Sagigi awarded prestigious Troy Clarke scholarship
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