HILLS INDEPENDENT HILLS 130 April 2026 | Seite 29

Joey Delana reaches new heights with GWS Giants

with Matt“ Duck Man” Austin
Joey Delana is fast emerging as one of the most exciting young talents to come out of the GWS Giants Academy— a dynamic small forward of Fijian heritage whose journey from Western Sydney parks to the AFL system is already inspiring the next generation.
I had the pleasure of meeting the vibrant and energetic face of Western Sydney AFL at the GWS Giants Fan Day at Homebush a few weeks ago, and it was immediately clear Delana brings not only talent, but infectious enthusiasm to the game.
Born into a proud Fijian family and raised in rugby league – dominated Western Sydney, Delana’ s pathway to AFL was anything but conventional. Growing up, AFL barely registered in
Joey Delana playing in the Allies. Credit GWS
his community, with league the sport everyone played, watched and lived. Like many young boys in the area, Delana started out playing rugby league, often competing against bigger Polynesian players— an experience that helped shape the toughness and tackling ability that now defines his AFL game.
His introduction to Australian rules football came unexpectedly, sparked by watching Israel Folau’ s cross-code stint with the Giants in 2012. That moment planted a seed. Delana went on to play junior footy with the Kellyville Magpies and later at Oakhill College, supported strongly by his father, who, while unfamiliar with AFL at first, backed his son’ s ambitions from the outset.
Remarkably, Delana didn’ t pick up a Sherrin until the age of 13. Spotting AFL tryouts at school during lunchtime, he decided to“ have a crack”— a decision that would change his life. Despite joining the Giants Academy later than most prospects, his natural agility, clean hands and competitive instincts quickly set him apart. Within just two years, he had firmly established himself on the Giants’ radar.
By 2024, Delana was representing the Allies at the AFL National Championships, delivering a standout performance against Western Australia with 19 disposals and 14 tackles— an effort that showcased his pressure, speed and relentless work rate. He also played eight VFL games for the
Giants that year, impressing coaches with his energy and decision-making.
His Draft Combine results further highlighted his athletic potential, including an impressive 8.39-second agility test and a strong 6:38 2km time trial, underlining both his explosiveness and endurance.
Delana was officially selected by GWS as a Category B Rookie in the 2024 AFL Draft, becoming one of the few Western Sydney locals to earn a place on an AFL list. His selection reflects the Giants’ long-term commitment to developing talent from non-traditional AFL regions, particularly within multicultural communities. Alongside players like Kieren Briggs, Delana represents a growing wave of homegrown success stories helping to grow the game in Western Sydney.
His AFL debut came in Round 8, 2025, on one of the biggest stages— the Sydney Derby at the SCG. With just two days’ notice, Delana rallied an incredible support crew of around 80 family members and friends, including relatives who flew in from Fiji.
While he finished with three disposals, his impact was felt through elite defensive pressure, laying five tackles and showing fearless physicality. He later joked that tackling AFL stars like Isaac Heeney felt easy compared to the“ big boys” he grew up facing in rugby league.
Delana went on to play three AFL
Joey Delana GWS Giants medium forward.
games in his debut season, earning praise for his attitude and team-first approach. He has also featured for the Giants this season, including their opening-round win over Hawthorn at ENGIE Stadium.
A classic modern small forward, Delana combines explosive agility, clean groundlevel skills, strong defensive pressure and smart decision-making. He relishes the contest, hunts the ball carrier and plays with a work ethic centred firmly on team success.
More than anything, Delana hopes his journey will inspire more young players— particularly from Polynesian backgrounds— to give AFL a go.

Sydney Hills Gymnastics cleans up at NSW awards night

with Matt“ Duck Man” Austin
Sydney Hills Gymnastics has once again shone on the state stage, collecting a range of athlete honours at the 2025 Gymnastics NSW Awards Night.
The club was also recognised with two major accolades in Men’ s Artistic Gymnastics, taking out Club of the Year and Junior Development Coaching Team of the Year— a testament to the strength of its program and coaching expertise.
Among the standout junior award winners were 11-year-olds Jannah Ashour and Noah Saad.
Jannah, coached by Marina Tatarchina and Evgueni Indioukov, was named Women’ s Artistic Gymnastics Development Athlete of the Year, following an exceptional season. Noah, under the guidance of coach Sasha Kazhamiakin, received the Men’ s Artistic Gymnastics International Development Athlete of the Year award.
Jannah’ s award caps off a remarkable 2025 season, highlighted by her performance at the Australian Gymnastics Championships on the Gold Coast. Competing in WAG Level 8 Under, she claimed gold on beam, bronze on vault, and finished second All-Around against some of the nation’ s top young gymnasts.
“ I was proud of all the hard work I put in throughout the season, and it meant a lot to be recognised like that,” Jannah said.“ I’ m very grateful to my coaches, teammates and family who supported me the whole way.”
One routine in particular stands out in her memory.
“ I’ m most proud of my uneven bars routine at NSW State Trial 2 because it was clean and I didn’ t make any mistakes. Everything felt like it came together the way I had practised.”
Her coaches praised her composure and consistency at the national level.
“ To earn two apparatus medals and finish second All-Around at a national event requires strong technical ability, consistency and focus under pressure,” Marina said.“ Jannah showed great determination, and it reflects the effort she has put into training over several years.”
Jannah’ s rapid progression through the ranks— from Level 4 to Level 8 in a short period— has been particularly impressive, requiring significant growth in difficulty, artistry and execution. In 2026, she will take the next big step, moving up to Level 10 at just 11 years of age.
“ My goal for 2026 is to compete in Level 10 and perform to the best of my ability in each competition,” she said.“ I want to finish the year proud of my effort and keep improving.”
For Noah, the recognition was equally special.
“ I felt nervous, excited and proud about
Coach Evgueni, Jannah and coach Marina; and( r) Coach Sasha, Noah and choreographer Celeste. Credit SHG.
winning the award,” he said.“ I was really proud to be nominated and happy with how I performed across all my events. My heart was beating fast when I went up to accept it.”
Noah’ s award follows another outstanding season, where he secured the MAG Level 5 Under NSW Junior State Champion title— his third consecutive state title. Throughout the year, he also achieved multiple scores above 10, an impressive feat for a young gymnast.
Coach Sasha highlighted Noah’ s
high bar routine at the NSW Junior State Championships as a season highlight.
“ He delivered one of his best routines with precision, exceptional amplitude and expressiveness. It was truly the routine of a champion, and I am very proud of him,” he said.
Looking ahead, Noah is focused on continuing his development.
“ In 2026, I’ m looking forward to getting stronger and fitter,” he said.“ I’ m also excited to learn new skills and improve across all the apparatus.”
THE HILLS INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine. com. au ISSUE 130 // APRIL 2026 29