Kilburn Football Club’s Dale Agius plays 300th game in the Adelaide Footy League
Player, administrator, mentor, social reformer – Kilburn Football Club stalwart Dale Agius has many titles but added 300-gamer for the Chics to his long list on Saturday.
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Player, administrator, mentor, social reformer – Kilburn Football Club’s Dale Agius could easily wear any of those titles in his job description.
But all-round good bloke is the one constant supporters and officials at the amateur football club highlight to describe their president who chalked up his 300th senior game against Edwardstown last Saturday.
A modest Agius says he is thrilled to be a member of such a passionate club.
He has seen its challenges with top-level premierships when he started in 2000 to on and off-field struggles from player loss to financial woes in recent times.
Apart from his playing and presidency positions, the 40-year-old also has a burning passion to help indigenous youth as the Metropolitan Aboriginal Youth and Family Services manager.
“I basically take on the role of helping young indigenous people keep away from getting into trouble,’’ Agius said.
“Through my work at Kilburn on the board I have learned how to guide a ship through troubled waters.
“I want to help provide some opportunities to our young and help give them hope and self esteem.’’
Despite the long-time battle against racism in sport, and football in particular, Agius says he has got through his career fairly unscathed.
“I have only had two times I could remember, both in my early days, where I copped a bit,’’ Agius said.
“But surprisingly not a lot. I had plenty of help from my teammates and club people so twice out of nearly 20 years isn’t too bad, although there is still the odd incident involving some players towards teammates.’’
One of Agius’ proudest moments with Kilburn was helping introduce a Dreamtime round which it kicked off in 2010.
“My plan at the time was to mirror what the AFL was doing but to focus on stamping out racism at a local level,’’ Agius said.
“Education at a local level involving spectators, players, umpires and supporters is so important.’’
To mark the Dreamtime theme the Pooraka v Kilburn game at Lindblom Park next Saturday will feature, for the first time, both clubs wearing Dreamtime jumpers – courtesy of Sportscentre, Hindmarsh.
Kilburn will then have its own stand-alone Dreamtime game against Mitcham at home to end the minor round on August 17.
Among players Agius looks up to include former AFL greats Gavin Wanganeen, Byron Pickett and Michael O’Loughlin.