On Monday night the AFLW will usher in a new generation for the 2025 season, drafting the biggest and best names across the country. Literally, the best names.
West Australian Zippy Fish is a top-five contender in the league’s first fully national draft class alongside South Fremantle star Molly O’Hehir and likely No.1 pick Ash Centra.
West Australian Zipporah “Zippy” Fish is a top-five contender at the AFLW draft. Credit: Tony McDonough
Fish – a Larrakia, Wongi, Noongar and Nunga woman – is known for her aerial ability, athleticism and explosive pace, which is fitting given her speedy nickname.
“Yeah, it would be a bit awkward if I was slow,” she laughed. “Luckily, I’ve always been fast so the name definitely fits.”
The 18-year-old helped guide the East Fremantle Sharks to a 2023 flag and broke the WAFLW record for the most disposals in a game this year, notching 39 against West Perth in round seven – an impressive feat for a player who started footy in 2021.
Fish’s full name Zipporah has biblical origins, however the nickname Zippy has been family favourite since she was young.
Fish wants to be a role model for young Indigenous girls who love footy.Credit: Pic:Tony McDonough
As a child, Fish excelled in athletics and played various sports before focusing on footy. She debuted for the Sharks as a 15-year-old, winning the under-16 MVP award and clinching the Lou Knitter Medal for best on ground in the WAFLW grand final the following year.
The midfielder admired the game style of Richmond star Monique Conti and Essendon’s Maddy Prespakis, and wanted to focus on getting stronger for 2025.
“I want to be fast enough so no one can catch me and big enough so no one can tackle me,” she said.
She admitted to having some nerves ahead of Monday’s national draft, but was mostly excited about the possibility of playing round one and debuting at the top level.
Fish only began playing football in 2021.Credit: Pic:Tony McDonough
“I don’t really get nervous, even when I’m playing footy, I mostly just feel excited,” she said.“I just want to go out there and have fun and be a good role model, especially for young Indigenous girls who love footy.
“That’s my main goal and my main dream.”
India Rasheed
Approximately 2700 kilometres away in Adelaide, India Rasheed is preparing for the biggest night of her career.
India Rasheed is one of South Australia’s top AFLW draft prospects. Credit: Matt Turner
The 18-year-old Sturt player was South’s Australia’s MVP at last year’s under-18 championships and is widely considered one of the state’s top draft prospects.
Elite sport is in India’s genes – her father Roger is a former professional tennis player turned coach whose famous pupils include Lleyton Hewitt, Grigor Dimitrov and Gael Monfils.
India’s footy journey started as a four-year-old with Auskick, playing alongside boys for the Payneham Football Club.
She also played tennis until she was 12, but stopped after deciding she wanted to pursue her football dream.
“I definitely prefer footy because it’s a team sport, tennis is very individual,” she explained. “Dad actually said he hoped I’d play footy instead of tennis because it [tennis] can be such a lonely sport.”
India Rasheed with her dad Roger at Unley Oval. Credit: Matt Turner
India said her dad often texts her quotes from old interviews with tennis champions Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal to help with inspiration ahead of games.
“He likes to share quotes with me ... a lot around not being too much of a perfectionist … you can make a mistake and you can still play a really good game,” she said. “That’s what I’ve been trying to do, learning how to make mistakes and not getting too upset about it … because that’s something I struggled with a couple of years ago.”
Roger has enjoyed watching his daughter’s footy journey, describing India as a “quiet achiever” who thrives in a team environment.
Former tennis coach Roger Rasheed encouraged his daughter India to play footy. Credit: Matt Turner
But he admitted his daughter would have been a “very accomplished tennis player”.
“She plays tennis just as naturally as she plays footy,” he said.
Tennis coach Roger Rasheed with daughter India.
“We get out on the court together … she loves tennis and the lessons that she’s learnt ... she’s been up close and personal to the very best players in the world, so her sporting IQ of what that elite delivery looks like is really well ingrained.”
Roger stepped away from full-time coaching and the ATP tour six years ago and is working as an elite behaviour specialist, consulting athletes and their performance teams.
“I basically took myself off the tour so I could be a full-time dad and really enjoy my daughter’s journey,” he said. “Otherwise, I was going to be away 35 weeks a year and not be exposed to being a dad, watching Sunday afternoon sport and all those things.”
Between footy, spending time with friends and driving lessons, India does not have much time to worry about Monday night.
“I think I’m more excited than nervous,” she said. “I just want it to happen, I want to hear my name.”
Rasheed is not the only draft hopeful with elite sport lineage.
Famous father-daughter prospects
Fellow South Australian Violet Patterson can follow in her father Stephen’s footsteps and play for Collingwood under the father-daughter rule.
Carlton also lodged a father-daughter draft nomination for Sandringham Dragon Sophie McKay. The midfielder’s father Andrew played for the Blues in the 1990s and early 2000s, while her sister Abbie is co-vice captain of the Blues’ AFLW side.
Top-five draft contender Poppy Scholz will try and follow her sister Matilda – the recently crowned AFLW rising star – to Port Adelaide next year.
Two veterans, Steph Chiocci and Stacey Livingstone, have nominated for the draft, keeping their options open if a team need a top-up or injury replacement player next season.
So has Essendon key position player Paige Scott, who told the Bombers they wanted to change clubs during the trade period.
Other nominees include recently delisted Lauren Brazzale, Alana Gee and Verity Simmons, Phoebe Monahan and Erin McKinnon.
The AFLW Draft will be held at Marvel Stadium on Monday and will be broadcast live on the AFLW app.
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