Josaia Delana

Josaia Delana
Personal information
Nickname Joey[1]
Born (2006-07-01) 1 July 2006
Original teams Greater Western Sydney (VFL)
East Coast Eagles (Sydney AFL)
Draft Category B rookie selection
Debut Round 8, 2025, Greater Western Sydney vs. Sydney, at Sydney Cricket Ground
Height 176 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Weight 78 kg (172 lb)
Position Medium forward
Club information
Current club Greater Western Sydney
Number 38
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2025– Greater Western Sydney 10 (1)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 22, 2026.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Josaia Delana (born 1 July 2006) is an Australian rules footballer playing for the Greater Western Sydney Giants in the Australian Football League (AFL).[2]

Early life and career

Delana comes from a multicultural family of western Sydney, with his father born in Fiji and his mother a local from Blacktown.[3] In his youth, Delana played association football for the Blacktown Spartans and rugby league for the Kellyville Bushrangers and the Hills District Bulls.[4] Despite a strong junior career in league,[5] he switched to junior Australian rules football and played for the East Coast Eagles in AFL Sydney before joining the Academy program of the GWS Giants. He then represented the Giants' reserves team in the Victorian Football League (VFL).[2]

Delana's switch from rugby league to Australian rules at the age of 13 was inspired by former Greater Western Sydney player Israel Folau.[6][7] Delana represented the Allies on four occasions during his junior football career.[2]

He was elevated to a position in the club's senior AFL team through a Category B rookie selection in 2024.

AFL career

Delana made his debut for the Giants in the round 8 Sydney Derby against the Sydney Swans.[8][9] He extended his one-year contract following three games in his debut season.[1]

Personal life

Josaia has a younger brother named Rai who has aspirations of becoming a professional athlete.[10] Their father, Josaia Sr., played rugby league in the Parramatta Junior Rugby League as well as for South Sydney's reserves team and for the Montpellier Red Devils in France.[4]

Statistics

Updated to the end of round 22, 2026.[11][12]

Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game) Votes
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2025Greater Western Sydney38 3029615390.00.73.02.05.01.03.00
2026Greater Western Sydney38 7143425597260.10.64.93.68.41.03.70
Career 101643317410350.10.64.33.17.41.03.50

References

  1. 1 2 "Dazzling Delana Staying Put In Western Sydney". gwsgiants.com.au. GIANTS Media. 2 July 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 "Josaia Delana | AFL". gwsgiants.com.au. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  3. ↑ Patterson, Emily (22 May 2026). "Why this western Sydney native fell for AFL in rugby heartland". AFL.com.au.
  4. 1 2 Rugari, Vince (29 January 2025). "Is this the player who could vindicate the AFL's Israel Folau experiment?". Sydney Morning Herald.
  5. ↑ Guelas, Joanna (5 May 2025). "From Fiji to the SCG, Giants teen reflects on AFL debut". National Indigenous Times.
  6. ↑ Guha, Sayantan (2 May 2025). "Who is Josaia Delana? Western Sydney rugby league convert debuts for Giants". The Sporting News.
  7. ↑ AAP (20 December 2024). "Homegrown Giants rookie inspired by Folau experiment". afl.com.au.
  8. ↑ AAP (6 May 2025). "From Fiji to the SCG, Giants teen reflects on AFL debut". FBC TV.
  9. ↑ "Delana To Debut As One Of Three Changes". gwsgiants.com.au. GIANTS Media. 2 May 2025.
  10. ↑ "Rising AFL star Josaia Delana's brother, Rai, showing rare cross-code ability". Seven Network. 4 June 2025.
  11. ↑ "Josaia Delana". AFL Tables. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
  12. ↑ Josaia Delana's playing statistics from AFL Tables
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