ONE of the talking points of the VFL Women’s offseason was the substantial list changes that were happening at Collingwood, with just about every member of their 2023 squad list no longer at the club heading into 2024.

One of those who found themselves a new home was lively forward Nyakoat Dojiok, who was just starting to really get herself noticed amongst VFLW followers.

She ultimately landed at Arden Street, where she has become a quick, versatile and dangerous member of the North Melbourne forwardline.

Nyakoat Dojiok
07/01/2003 | 175cm
Player Number: 40

Dojiok is the tallest target the Roos have in attack. By comparison, their other tall target is 166cm Emily Paterno.

With Paterno tending to play further up the ground, the Roos are really able to use Dojiok’s height to their advantage and really use her as that tall focal point deep in attack, and even if she does not mark it, her agility – which is of a strength not typically seen in a forward of her height – means that she is regularly able to dart around opponents, pick up the ball and go for goal.

That tendency means that she tends to have games where her kick count is much higher than her handball count, which has been the case in 11 matches so far this season compared to three the other way around and two even.

However, it does lead her to sometimes rush her kicks, so she is not always as accurate as she could possibly be.

In saying that, she has improved her accuracy in 2024. In 2023, she kicked 16 goals and 20 behinds in her season, which included missing two possible appearances, while in 2024 she has kicked 28 goals and 17 behinds so far, despite missing one game for an All-Stars clash.

One part of her game that has changed since she has moved to the Kangaroos is that she has been used as a pinch-hitter ruck in the forwardline. She has never been the main ruck, but has gone up for a number of contests in the forward line to give the likes of Kate Reynolds and Sarah King a break.

In 2024, she has recorded 34 hitouts to-date, only not recording a hit-out in three matches. It is in stark contrast to last season where she recorded only three hitouts, and they were all in the one game.