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‘I love my name’: Swans star on having the best name in the AFLW

From ABC Australia · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • Sydney Swans' young player Zippy Fish embraces her unique name and the attention it brings.
  • She gained significant attention for her speed and easy-going nature in her debut AFLW season.
  • Fish, originally from a small town in Western Australia, also spoke about homesickness and her personal growth since moving to Sydney.

Sydney Swans' emerging talent, Zippy Fish, has become a notable figure in the AFLW, not only for her impressive on-field performance but also for her distinctive name. Fish, whose full name is Zipporah, has embraced the attention her name garners, finding it a source of amusement and a conversation starter.

Growing up, everyone was like, 'Is that actually your name?' Like, 'Yeah, it's my name.'

— Zippy FishRecalling childhood reactions to her name.

Her debut season saw her make an immediate impact, equalling the AFLW record for most disposals in a first game with 26 touches. Fish's blistering speed and dynamic play from halfback quickly made her a fan favorite. Her easy-going personality, evident in early interviews where she expressed a lack of nervousness, further cemented her popularity.

Adding to her unique persona, Fish acquired the nickname "Zippy Ya Ya," coined by teammate Imogen Brown. This moniker even inspired fan-made merchandise, including a shirt that became a playful element within the team's fines system.

I love my name. Well, my full name is actually Zipporah, but I actually kind of forget that myself sometimes, because everyone just calls me Zippy … Very grateful for my name.

— Zippy FishExpressing her affection for her name and its common usage.

Despite her success and evident enjoyment of her AFLW career with the Swans, Fish admits to experiencing homesickness. Originally from Newman, a remote town in Western Australia, the move to Sydney as a teenager involved a significant cross-country transition. She credits the experience with fostering personal growth, though she misses her family and boyfriend back home.

I don't really get nervous for anything really, I just went out and did my thing.

— Zippy FishDescribing her mindset during her debut match.

Fish's journey to the AFLW began after being drafted from the East Fremantle Sharks. She noted that the Western Australian league provided a strong foundation, preparing her well for the transition to playing against seasoned women in the professional league.

She does this thing, she just puts 'Ya Ya' at the end of everyone's name. And it just stuck on my name.

— Zippy FishExplaining the origin of her nickname 'Zippy Ya Ya'.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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