Tunisha Kikoak

Tunisha Kikoak
Personal information
Full name Tunisha Ouvluviac Kikoak
Nickname(s) TK[1]
Date of birth (2005-05-12) 12 May 2005 (age 19)
Original team(s) Tasmania Devils/North Melbourne
Debut Fremantle vs. Essendon, at Windy Hill
Height 180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Forward
Club information
Current club Fremantle
Number 37
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2024– Fremantle 10 (6)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of the 2024 season.
Source: AustralianFootball.com

Tunisha Ouvluviac Kikoak (born 12 May 2005) is an Australian rules footballer for the Fremantle Football Club in the AFL Women's (AFLW).

The daughter of Josh, an Inuit man[1] from Inuvik in Northwest Canada, and Kelly, from Australia,[2] Kikoak began playing football in Tasmania where she represented the Tasmania Devils in the Talent League Girls as well as for Old Scotch and North Launceston.[3] She also spent some time playing for North Melbourne in the VFL Women's League.[2]

In June 2024, Kikoak was signed by Fremantle as a replacement player for Kiara Bowers who would miss the upcoming 2024 AFL Women's season due to pregnancy.[4] She made her debut for Fremantle in the opening round against Essendon, before injuring her should in the next game against Adelaide. When Aine Tighe suffered a season ending knee injury in round 4, Kikoak was recalled[5] and has played all games for the remainder of the year, kicking six goals as she replaced Tighe as the main tall forward.[6]

  1. ^ a b Bastiani, Gemma (18 October 2024). "'The best yes I have ever said': Rising Docker's rollercoaster ride to big time". afl.com.au/aflw. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  2. ^ a b Bowling, Eric (4 February 2024). "Daughters of Inuvik man crushing it in Aussie rules football". NNSL Media. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  3. ^ Allen, Brian (30 August 2024). "Launceston AFLW debutant: 'It will be a privilege to play in front of Pop'". The Examiner. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  4. ^ "AFLW: Fremantle signs Tunisha Kikoak to replace Kiara Bowers". fremantlefc.com.au. 8 May 2024. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  5. ^ Smith, Ben (25 October 2024). "Webb's warriors find the solutions". The West Australian.
  6. ^ Bastiani, Gemma (10 October 2024). "How Fremantle has turned a star duo's absence into a chance for growth". ABC News. Retrieved 2 November 2024.