GWS rookie inspired by Israel Folau's AFL experiment

Ask AFL rookie Josaia Delana how his journey with Greater Western Sydney started and he'll tell you it began with rugby league star Israel Folau.

In 2012, a six-year-old Delana growing up in a Fijian family in Western Sydney, witnessed NRL star Folau playing Australian rules football.

GWS, then a fledgling AFL club, had embarked on the giant task of winning over fans in rugby league heartland and resorted to unorthodox methods.

Now 12 years on since Folau made his debut before the experiment went sideways, the Giants got their desired outcome.

Joining the ranks as a category B rookie, 18-year-old Delana is the fourth Giants academy product from Western Sydney to be drafted by the club.

The small forward joins ruckman Kieren Briggs, from Pennant Hills, as the only Western Sydney local on the current playing list.

"It's a real surreal feeling from being just some kid that was just kicking the ball at the park to now an AFL-listed player," Delana told AAP.

"When GWS first started out I had known them because of Israel Folau going from rugby league to AFL.

"I was like, 'Why would he do that sort of thing? Like, he doesn't even know how to play AFL. What a weird sport.'

"It was never big anywhere. None of my friends at school, none of my family, no one in the neighbourhood, in the community, no one watched or played AFL.

"Even now to put footy on at home on a Friday night, I'd get in early so I could watch at least the first quarter and then it would be overruled by league."

While Folau had introduced him to the world of Australian rules football, Delana didn't pick up the Sherrin until he was 13.

He then joined the Giants academy two years ago, realising he had a chance at becoming a professional athlete.

"They said AFL tryouts were on during lunch and I was keen to go. I just went and had a crack," Delana said.

"I enjoyed the game. Playing rugby league, I was always a bit of a smaller body and just running into the big Polynesian kids, it wasn't too enjoyable.

"Even though I joined the Giants academy considerably later compared to other boys, it was still fine for me.

"I knew that if I wanted to make it in AFL and get drafted and get my name out there, joining the academy was the way."

Delana has already had a taste of life as a Giant, having featured for the VFL side in eight games this year.

The 18-year-old made his VFL debut last year and featured in Phil Davis's last match before the GWS great retired.

He easily recalls Davis and now-Carlton player Nick Haynes coming to Auskick programs at his school.

"They didn't know that they had come to the school that I was at but I had always known that Nick Haynes and Phil Davis had inspired me to be who I am today," Delana said.

"It's such a surreal feeling now, even like knowing where they used to sit."