Changkuoth Jiath

{{Infobox AFL biography

| name = Changkuoth Jiath

| image = Changkuoth Jiath.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Jiath in 2025

| fullname = Changkuoth Jiath

| nickname = CJ

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|06|13|df=y}}

| birth_place = Mekelle, Ethiopia

| death_date =

| death_place =

| originalteam = Gippsland Power (NAB League)/Xavier College (APS)/Morwell Tigers (GL)

| draftpick =

| debutdate = Round 21, 2019

| debutteam = {{AFL Haw}}

| debutopponent = {{AFL GWS}}

| debutstadium = UNSW Canberra Oval

| height = 185 cm

| weight = 78 kg

| position = Winger/Defender

| currentclub = {{AFL Haw}}

| guernsey = 9

| years1 = 2018–

| club1 = {{AFL Haw}}

| games_goals1 = 59 (5)

| statsend = round 5, 2025

| careerhighlights =

22under22 team: 2021
VFL premiership player: 2018

}}

Changkuoth Jiath ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|tʃ|æ|ŋ|k|w|ɒ|θ|_|dʒ|iː|ˈ|æ|θ}} {{respell|CHANG|kwoth|_|jee|ATH}};{{Cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/video/730128/how-to-say-the-afl-s-trickiest-names|title=How to say the AFL's trickiest names|publisher=Australian Football League|date=30 March 2022|access-date=30 September 2022}} born 13 June 1999) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Hawthorn Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Early life

Born in Ethiopia to South Sudanese parents, Jiath moved to Australia when he was six years old.{{cite news |title=Hawks debutant 'rattled' after getting call-up |url=https://thewest.com.au/sport/hawthorn-hawks/hawthorn-debutant-changkuoth-jiath-rattled-after-getting-call-up-ng-b881286041z |access-date=12 August 2019 |work=The West Australian |date=8 August 2019 |language=en}} Living in the town of Morwell he played his junior football at the Morwell Youth Club. Changkuoth then went on to play senior football at the Morwell Tigers Football Club. Because his name was hard for others to pronounce, Jiath adopted the nickname "CJ" to make it easier for people to address him. He completed high school while boarding at Xavier College in Melbourne.{{Cite web|url=https://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/country-living/education/secondary/xavier-college-hawthorn-rookie-goes-from-ethiopia-to-boarding-house/news-story/baed5db86d3ef9fa0c2fc01270aee3b5|title=Hawk rookie lauds Xavier care|date=23 January 2018}} During his time at Xavier, he forged close friendships with future AFL players Laitham Vandermeer and Bailey Smith.{{Cite web |date=2022-06-10 |title=From refugee camp to Hawks' nest: Gun defender's remarkable journey |url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/777087/from-refugee-camp-to-hawks-nest-gun-defender-changkuoth-jiath-remarkable-journey |access-date=2023-09-05 |website=afl.com.au |language=en}}

AFL Career

Known as CJ, Jiath was selected as a 2017 category B rookie. He had a delayed start to the 2018 season when he suffered a groin injury during the pre-season. Jiath made his debut for Box Hill mid year he showed good signs on the half back line. Jiath made his debut for Hawthorn in the snow for their round 21, 2019 game against {{AFL GWS}}.{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/131369/hawks-to-unleash-category-b-rookie-for-friday-night-debut|title=Hawks to unleash Category B rookie for Friday night debut|website=Australian Football League|last1=McGowan|first1=Marc|date=August 8, 2019|access-date=July 31, 2020}} He ended up playing 2 games during the 2019 season. In the middle of the 2020 season, Jiath was upgraded to the senior list following changes to the rookie promotion rules.{{cite web|url=https://www.hawthornfc.com.au/news/785061|title=Exciting news for CJ|website=Hawthorn Football Club|date=July 29, 2020|access-date=July 31, 2020}}

The 2021 season ended up being a breakout year for Jiath as he grew with skill and confidence. Nearly averaging 20+ disposals for all 16 games he played in. Jiath's season was cut short due to a PCL injury which ruled him out for the remainder of the season.

His younger brother Tew Jiath debuted for Collingwood in 2024.

Statistics

Updated to the end of opening round, 2025.{{cite web|url=https://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/C/Changkuoth_Jiath.html|title=Changkuoth Jiath's player profile|website=AFL Tables}}

| 2018 || {{AFL Haw}} || 43

| 0 || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || 0

| 2019 || {{AFL Haw}} || 29

| 2 || 0 || 0 || 10 || 19 || 29 || 7 || 5 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 5.0 || 9.5 || 14.5 || 3.5 || 2.5 || 0

| 2020{{efn|The 2020 season was played with 17 home-and-away matches per team (down from 22) and 16-minute quarters with time on (down from 20-minute quarters with time on) due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.}} || {{AFL Haw}} || 29

| 5 || 0 || 0 || 27 || 21 || 48 || 13 || 8 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 5.4 || 4.2 || 9.6 || 2.6 || 1.6 || 0

| 2021 || {{AFL Haw}} || 29

| 16 || 0 || 2 || 172 || 152 || 324 || 93 || 26 || 0.0 || 0.1 || 10.8 || 9.5 || 20.3 || 5.8 || 1.6 || 2

| 2022 || {{AFL Haw}} || 9

| 15 || 1 || 2 || 141 || 113 || 254 || 63 || 29 || 0.1 || 0.1 || 10.1 || 8.1 || 18.1 || 4.5 || 2.1 || 6

| 2023 || {{AFL Haw}} || 9

| 8 || 1 || 0 || 77 || 59 || 136 || 28 || 10 || 0.1 || 0.0 || 9.6 || 7.4 || 17.0 || 3.5 || 1.3 || 0

| 2024 || {{AFL Haw}} || 9

| 11 || 3 || 4 || 76 || 55 || 131 || 33 || 22 || 0.3 || 0.4 || 6.9 || 5.0 || 11.9 || 3.0 || 2.0 || 0

| 2025 || {{AFL Haw}} || 9

| 0 || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || –

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