Mawson Lakes player/coach Kim Pearce to play 800th football game in Adelaide Footy League
After more than 40 years, several clubs and 12 premierships, Mawson Lakes veteran and Kersbrook legend Kim Pearce will play his 800th match of senior football this Saturday.
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Talk to Kim Pearce about his football career and he delivers arguably the understatement of the year.
“I’ve played a few games I suppose,” Peace says.
The 62-year-old bricklayer will run out for his 800th match of senior footy this Saturday playing for Mawson Lakes in the Adelaide Footy League’s C6.
Add in more than 350 masters games and a stack of junior matches and Pearce’s career tally extends well beyond 1000 appearances.
The veteran centreman, who has played 519 games in the Adelaide Hills for Kersbrook, puts his longevity down to work and his wife Sue.
“I work in the building trade – I’m a brickie – I reckon that helps keep me fit and keeps the stamina going,” he says.
“I wouldn’t be able to do it without my missus (Sue), if she didn’t support me the whole way through I would be stuffed I reckon.
“I’ve always loved footy, the competitiveness of it and I’ve just never really wanted to give it away.”
A lucky run with injury has resulted in more than 40 years of senior footy at several clubs.
Pearce’s football journey began as an 11-year-old with Modbury, before moving to Tea Tree Gully “around about 18 years old”, a year in the amateurs with Broadview then following mates to Kersbrook.
It is at the Brookers where the Pearce name has really made its mark.
“My sons Bradley and Nathan are both still playing, they’re 37 and 35 but they’re still up at Kersbrook,” says Pearce, who lives a drop punt away from Kersbrook Oval.
“One’s nearly at 400, the other is over 300 and I played over 500, so we’ve played a few games up there.”
After deciding he was keeping young blokes out of the Brookers’ B grade, Pearce followed another mate to Mawson Lakes where he has player/coached the C grade since 2013.
Pearce says there are a few special memories among the 12 premierships he has won on the journey.
“Back in 1986 Kersbrook were probably a pretty crappy side and we just built ourselves up and we won our first A grade there for a long time, so that was quite memorable.
“I was lucky enough to be a player/coach for six B grade flags in a row at Kersbrook – that was pretty good.
“At Mawson Lakes it was really good playing in the premiership a few years ago. I was 57 so to still play in one at that stage in your life is special.”
Pearce’s C6 Saints side is yet to win a game this campaign and has an average losing margin of 129 points.
The playing coach believes this season could be his last.
“The body isn’t pulling up too well at the moment, I copped an absolute hammering last Saturday,” he says.
“It could be my last year I reckon.
“It does get tougher to get out of bed on those cold Saturday mornings.
“I’ll keep playing the masters as long as I can though.”
patrick.keam@news.com.au