Gisu blazes a trail from Torres Strait
THE AFLW’s first Torres Strait Islander wants to become a beacon of inspiration for others hoping to play football at the highest level.
Suns Winter Series player Delma Gisu was taken with pick 65 by Greater Western Sydney in the 2018 AFLW draft last Tuesday in a historic moment for the game.
Gisu hails from tiny Mer Island – which boasts a population of 485 – in the Torres Strait.
The 22-year-old, who only started playing football four years ago, said she was proud to be able to pave a new way forward for more girls from the Torres Strait Islands.
“My goal was to be the first Torres Strait Islander to play AFLW and I’m going to be able to do that now so I’m happy and proud of myself,” Gisu said.
“The young ones look up to me and I tell them I’m happy to be that role model for them.”
The forward grew up playing
basketball in Townsville but, at the age of 18, developed a love of Australian rules after trying it at the suggestion of a teacher at her school.
Gisu instantly flourished and was selected in an indigenous representative team that year and was added to the Queensland youth girls program.
She went on to play in the indigenous All-Australian side and represented Queensland before moving to Brisbane to pursue football.
Gisu joined the Brisbane Lions train-on squad and spent the past two years playing for Wilston Grange in the QWAFL.
Gisu was one of five Suns products taken in the draft.
Trio Paige Parker, Lauren Bella and Tori Groves-Little were selected by Brisbane, while former Lion Jordan Membrey has secured a second crack at the AFLW after being picked up by Collingwood.