The 19-year-old small forward was selected by the Essendon Football Club with pick No. 13 in the 2024 National Draft, fulfilling a lifelong dream of representing the club he supported growing up.
Kako’s debut carried added historical significance. When he ran out at the Melbourne Cricket Ground against the Hawthorn Football Club, he became the 1200th player to don the famous Essendon sash (the iconic red diagonal stripe on the jersey of the Essendon Football Club), marking a milestone moment both for the club and for Assyrian representation in Australian sport.
The young forward made an immediate impact. Kako kicked the opening goal of the match with his very first kick in AFL football, a dream start that instantly captured attention and underscored his composure on the big stage.
His first season has already shown strong promise. Across 23 senior appearances, the lively forward has kicked 15 goals, demonstrating his pressure, pace, and forward craft at the elite level. Club officials have praised his professionalism and development during his introduction to AFL football.
Kako’s achievement also builds on earlier Assyrian representation within the Essendon pathway. Prior to his AFL breakthrough, Daniel Younan was widely recognised as the first Assyrian to reach the Victorian Football League (VFL) level while also representing Essendon’s program, making Kako’s debut the next historic step for Assyrian-Australians in elite Australian football.
