Hawthorn defender Changkuoth Jiath admitted his life would've been different if it wasn't for his parents fleeing Sudan during the Civil War.
Jiath and his family were granted refuge in Australia in 2011 after spending a period of time in an Ethiopian refugee camp.
Learning English through the TV series The Simpsons, and playing predominantly soccer growing up, the dashing defender took to football later in his development.
First picking up a football when he was 12, Jiath revealed he was making inroads immediately, featuring in representative sides two years later.
But as he put it on Channel 7's Unfiltered, that may have never been the case.
"This world that is happening in Sudan is so different to Ethiopia, but then also, the refugee camp in Ethiopia is so different to Australia. It's three different worlds," Jiath said.
"It's not always guaranteed that if you flee Sudan that you're going to leave, because most of the time, you don't know where you're going. You're trying to find somewhere to survive. It's not always a guarantee you'll live.
"It's a whole different world. The world changes"
From an Ethiopian refugee camp to the big stage of the MCG... What a journey ๐ค๐
Watch his episode of Unfiltered on 7plus ๐ https://t.co/amBbe1vS4i pic.twitter.com/sGULgnfQ3v
โ 7AFL (@7AFL) June 11, 2025
"If my parents stayed in Sudan, I wouldn't be here today. It's either you become a soldier, or you die, that's it.
"To have the Australian Government grant us as refugees was a special day for us."
Jiath's iconic speed and dare have always been a signature of his, but as he reveals, it was aided by his training at an athletics club.
The 25-year-old let slip that his father had accidentally signed him, and his siblings, at an athletics track instead of a soccer club. A happy accident.
His development was tracked closely by recruiters, featuring for the Morewell Tigers, Gippsland Power and Xavier College.
Hawthorn was one of multiple clubs eyeing Jiath off, and subsequently signed him as a Category B Rookie ahead of the 2018 season.
Multiple injury setbacks and adjustments to life as a professional athlete, Jiath's debut was delayed, but it was extremely memorable for multiple reasons.
Although donning the brown and gold for the first time, the 2019 Round 21 match was played at Manuka Oval in Canberra, which experienced snowfall on the cold Friday night.
However, his time in the AFL side under Alastair Clarkson was short-lived, playing seven games in his first three seasons at the Hawks, which prompted a pivotal conversation from now-coach Sam Mitchell.
Mitchell pulled him into his office at the end of the 2020 season after spending large amounts of time together at the Box Hill Hawks. He asked, "Why aren't you playing consistent AFL footy?"
Mitchell believed Jiath had all the attributes to play consistent senior football, and this has since inspired a change.
"That was the turning point of my career," Jiath said.
"I went away from that conversation, (took) a hard look at myself, and really tried to understand how come I'm not. From then, I was doing everything differently, to the way I trained, to how I recovered, to the point where I wanted to be a different player."
Jiath played 16 and 14 games respectively in the following two seasons, putting him on the path to AFL stardom.
Although injuries have hindered consistent appearances, the man referred to as 'CJ' has cemented his spot under Mitchell.
