TASMANIA Devils top-age talent Tunisha Kikoak is no stranger to travel or adversity, sharing one of the more unique football journey stories leading up to her AFLW Draft year.

The teenager’s father hails from a small Canadian town in Inuvik, her mother travelled the world, they settled on the Gold Coast and then moved to the Apple Isle five years ago where Kikoak first picked up a football.

To get an understanding of Kikoak’s nonchalant attitude towards adversities that might bring others her age down, the story of her first game is one for the ages.

“When we moved down from the Gold Coast which was about five years ago, one of our family friends asked me and my little sister to come play the Under 11 girls firsts competition,” Kikoak said. “I played one of the games, I didn’t have any boots or sneakers, so I was literally in sandshoes playing our game.

“It was a really, really cold frosty morning. During the warmup I dislocated my shoulder, just popped it back in. Nothing too major there, then we went and played the game and fell in love with it and it’s been really good every since.”

The move from the Gold Coast to Tasmania might not be one for those Queenslanders who enjoy the warmth. However her father’s town of Inuvik is north of the Artic Circle, where as example, the warmest day this week will reach a blistering -17 degrees, while it peaks in winter well below -40.

It might have been a change for him when settling into the Gold Coast, where Kikoak and her family grew up before heading south.

“Dad went into the Gold Coast City Council, worked for there for 12 years before we moved and mum was a stay at home mum,” Kikoak said. “The family did foster care for many children which was very good. Mum’s been a great mother, she’s been at home but now she’s working which is really great.”

Over the years, Kikoak has been involved with multicultural programs while balancing her Devils work, and travelled to Adelaide and then the Sunshine Coast over the Summer. Most of her preseason has been spent in Tasmania with the Devils as she prepares to embark on the 2023 Coates Talent League season. However, Kikoak “hasn’t been too sure” about the role she will play.

“‘Jodes’ (Jodie Clifford, Devils head coach) at the start of the season said to chuck me back because I can do that really well,” Kikoak said. “Then had our praccy match last week and that changed everything so I haven’t spoken to the coaches so we’ll see how it goes.”

Rating her strengths as her contested possesion and her ability to kick long, the top-ager is buckling down on her kicking accuracy in order to make it go direct to teammates.

“I know my kicking is good, I can go short, I can go far, but I want to nail down on the accuracy on it so it hits the target,” she said.

Though she does not have a particular mentor over the years, she is thankful of the coaches across both the North Launceston and Devils programs who have helped guide her along the way.

The Melbourne supporter – who unfortunately due to football and school commitments was unable to attend a game during her side’s premiership season, said she mould’s her game on one of their impressive talls.

“I feel like a bit of a Tayla Harris because she can do the ruckwork but be a really strong forward and present well to the ball so I feel like I might be able to compare to her,” Kikoak said.

Though her heart might bleed red and blue, Kikoak said she had “not particularly” thought about where she might like to nominate for the draft at the end of Season Eight, but might go with the greatest chance of being picked up.

“I feel like the Victoria might be a good state to nominate because it gives more options and opportunities to be picked up by a team, but not any particular team, just be grateful (to go anywhere),” she said.