"She's probably been the missing piece": Swans expect big impact from Zippy Fish ahead of AFLW debut

Jarred Cross Published August 15, 2025 at 12.00pm (AWST)

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West Australian Zippy Fish is poised to make a splash in her debut AFLW season with the Sydney Swans after dominating in the west. (Image: East Fremantle FC Facebook)

The Swans are bullish about the injection of top five draft pick Zippy Fish straight into their senior outfit for round one of the AFLW season on Friday night.

Fish, 19, came into the draft as a highly fancied talent after a dominant 2024 with WAFLW club East Fremantle.

Already an underage All Australian off the back of strong performances with Western Australia at National Championships, the Pilbara-bred talent ticked off just about every box on the honours list ahead of heading east to the Swans.

The speedster will make her AFLW debut for Sydney against the Tigers on Friday as one of two first gamers within six fresh faces in the Swans' side.

Ahead of selection Swans coach Scott Gowans said there was a "fair chance" Zippy would be named for her entry into the national competition - with additional benefits to her on-field impact.

"She's done everything right over the pre-season and she's a rare talent, she's going to be an exciting player to watch. But also, she will draw people to the game and NSW footy need that," Gowans said.

In 2024, Fish racked up awards while leading East Fremantle to the WAFLW grand final.

Claremont won the flag with a narrow win over the Sharks last July.

*Zippy Fish on draft night in 2024. (Image: James Ross/AAP)*

Fish ended her season with a club best and fairest, selection in the WAFLW team of the year and a second-place finish in the league's top individual honour, the Dhara Kerr medal, finishing just one vote behind back-to-back winner Jayme Harken.

At North Sydney Oval on Friday, she'll debut alongside Sydney league pick-up and ruck Caitlin Reid, 28.

While Reid is penned in as a defensive plus into the side, Gowans flagged a "flashy" addition to Sydney's ball movement going forward from Fish.

"Off the back of really sound team defence and her skills are amazing and she brings others into the game," the Sydney coach told club media.

"She's probably been the missing piece, I think, for us out of our team defence has been that link-up player, and Zippy's certainly that."

The Swans also welcome back mutli-time All Australian Chloe Molloy, who missed all but round one of the 2024 season with an ACL injury.

Sydney will look to bounce back from missing finals in 2024 after a breakout season in the competition the year previous.

The Swans won their maiden final in 2023 after a 0-10 first year in the women's competition.