AFLW: Sydney star Zippy Fish loving life at the top level as West Coast Eagles acknowledge young gun’s threat

AFLW rising star favourite and East Fremantle product Zippy Fish says her rapid adaptation to the top level can be traced back to a childhood desire to push herself. The Sydney star has been identified by West Coast coach Daisy Pearce as one of the Swans’ biggest threats ahead of their crunch clash at Henson Park on Saturday. With just one win from four outside of WA this season, West Coast will have to defy their own away form against a Sydney side who have won three from four at home. Fish, taken by the Swans with pick no.5 in last year’s draft, has excelled off half-back for Sydney in her first AFLW season. She has amassed more rebound 50s (73) than any other player in the league, to go with 22.2 disposals per game at almost 75 per cent efficiency and an average 456.3 metres gained. Fish said she felt well-prepared for the AFLW environment, thanks in part to her development and her own internal drive. “Most of my childhood I always tried to get myself to the top, so I feel like that set me up quite well, being able to try to push myself against people above me,” Fish said. “So coming into the AFLW, I feel like I set myself up pretty well with all the other sports that I did, but also at club level for the WAFL. “I had a really big pre-season and it got me fit enough to be where I wanted to be in my first season.” Fish’s bounce off half-back has been a big part of Sydney’s ball movement and she said the coaching staff’s faith in her gave her plenty of confidence. “They just allow me to do what I do and try and play that role to help the team so, having their support in me goes a long way and gives me confidence,” she said. “It also helps that they allow me to do that at training, so then, come game day, I’m ready.” While she admitted she has enjoyed her time playing through the midfield, Fish said she was enjoying her half-back role. “As long as I’m playing, I don’t really mind where I’m playing. I love the half-back, I love seeing the game from in front of me and being able to intercept and run off and deliver it into the forwards. “But I do enjoy being inside mid and being around the ball more.” Pearce said Fish was a crucial cog in Sydney’s game-plan and they would be on guard for her rebound off the backline. “She (Zippy) has had an incredible season as a first-year player, and is so important to the way that they move the ball,” Pearce said. “She has been on our whiteboard this week, as have a number of their players, but we know the most important thing is that we play our way. “The reason why we’ve gone after what we have in our game style is because we think it will stand up against any team. “We always have a look at the opposition, but 80, 90 per cent of what we focus on is us and improving every opportunity we get.” The last time Ally Morphett played against West Coast she dominated in the ruck and on the ground, but Pearce backed Liz McGrath to continue her strong form and go toe-to-toe with the Swans tall. “She’s certainly a challenge, but Liz has been a great addition to our list in terms of being able to combat those really mobile athletic types,” she said. “She’s an incredible worker, her running numbers for a ruck are really strong and it’s helped bolster our ability to really compete with those types. “One of Ally’s strengths is her ability to get around the ground and have the ball get played through her as a ruck. We think Liz gives us a real opportunity to go back against that.”