Nakia Cockatoo
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| Nakia Cockatoo | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Nakia Cockatoo | ||
| Born | 23 October 1996 | ||
| Original team | NT Thunder (NEAFL) | ||
| Draft | No. 10, 2014 national draft | ||
| Height | 186 cm (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Weight | 90 kg (198 lb) | ||
| Position | Midfielder / Forward | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Retired | ||
| Number | 12 | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 2015–2020 | Geelong | 34 (25) | |
| 2021–2023 | Brisbane Lions | 15 (7) | |
| Total | 49 (32) | ||
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2023. | |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Nakia Cockatoo (/nəˈkaɪə/ nə-KY-ə;[1] born 23 October 1996) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Brisbane Lions and Geelong in the Australian Football League (AFL).
Cockatoo was born in the Northern Territory into a family of Indigenous Australian descent (Jupangati and Marrithiyal)[2] and was raised in the small town of Humpty Doo. He began playing football at Auskick level with the Humpty Doo Bombers.[3] He played his junior football with Southern Districts in the NTFL and the Northern Territory Thunder in the NEAFL.[4]
He has strong family connections to Queensland, with his surname deriving from his great-great-great grandfather, who was known as 'Old Man Cockatoo' in the Cape York Peninsula[5] as well as three of his Queensland-based uncles Che, David and Donald playing professional football in the AFL.[6] Several female cousins of his are also involved in the Gold Coast Suns' developmental football academy.[7]
AFL career
Cockatoo was drafted with pick 10 in the 2014 AFL draft,[8] by Geelong Football Club. He made his debut in the first round of the 2015 AFL season against Hawthorn.[9]
At the conclusion of the 2020 AFL season, Cockatoo was traded to the Brisbane Lions,[10] where he would play 15 games before retiring at the conclusion of the 2023 season.
