"Being like Buddy would be something really special": Rising star Zippy Fish ahead of Indigenous Round

Jarred Cross
Jarred Cross Published August 27, 2025 at 7.30am (AWST)

After earning a Rising Star nomination and receiving floods of praise for her impact on the AFLW, Zippy Fish's focus is on "going out each week and playing my footy", she said on Tuesday.

The 19-year-old Pilbara-born talent has strung two starring performances together to start her career at the Swans.

In round one Fish equalled the most disposals by any debutant with 26 touches, going one better in her second game to collect the league's Rising Star nomination for round two.

Fish said the "honour" was mostly credited to her team's performance, an 82-point win over the Gold Coast.

It's a good feeling to have a pair of solid wins banked to start the year, she said, now turning her attention to Saturday's clash with Cats at Geelong in the first week of Indigenous Round.

Fish, a Larrakia, Noongar, Wongi and Wirangu woman, dons the same number Lance Franklin wore on his Sydney playing jumper.

"Wearing the number 23 like Buddy, it's pretty cool, and being able to run out in the Indigenous jersey will be really special," she said.

"Being like Buddy would be something really special. He played like no other. He was one of a kind."

She added running out during Indigenous Round "means I can represent my culture, and I'll be really proud to be out there".

After two rounds Fish leads the competition for effective kicks, sits equal sixth for all disposals and is already being trusted with the Swans kick outs coming out of their defensive 50.

She said she's not the only draftee making an impact in the early stages of the season.

On her own entrance, the elite arena is along the lines of what she expected.

"I feel like I put in all the hard work and set myself up really well in the junior years to come in and I guess, be ready for that next level," Fish said.

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National Indigenous Times

Disclaimer: This function is AI-generated and therefore may mispronounce.