From the USA, the Sydney Swans to Premier League basketball and now country football - Starling’s unique journey to our game
American Alex Starling has one of the most unique stories in football, and after trials at Sydney and Port Adelaide, he’ll finally get his crack at Aussie Rules - in the country.
Local Footy
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Footy. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Douglas looking for the next best thing after AFL
- How to get the most out of your Advertiser digital subscription
Nearly 10 years after travelling to Australia to give AFL a crack, American Alex Starling will finally play a game of footy, but at country level with Gawler Central in the Barossa, Light & Gawler Football Association.
Despite coming over for footy, Starling has never played a game in his eight years in the country, instead dominating at SA Premier League basketball level, taking home two Woollacott Medals, two MVPS, two defensive player of the year titles and is a four-time All-Star.
Stream over 50 sports Live & On-Demand with KAYO SPORTS on your TV, computer, mobile or tablet. Just $25/month, no lock-in contract. Get your 14-day free trial and start streaming instantly >
Initially, Starling knew nothing of Aussie Rules, but was shown a video of West Coast ruckman Nic Naitanui and was instantly interested.
“My initial reaction, I was in my dorm room in my senior year of college, I saw some videos of Nic Naitanui, and I was blown away,” he said.
“I had grown up playing American football and I had grown away from that when I was in the ninth or 10th grade and that’s when I pursued basketball.
“Six years later down the road, I’m introduced to football but instead of a 100 yard field, it’s a big oval, 18 players with a bigger, fatter and rounder footy.
“That initial reaction was I would love to do this, learning all the rules would take some time, but it would definitely peak my interest.
The now 30-year-old was brought over from the United States by the Sydney Swans and Paul Roos after participating in the first ever US-AFL Combine.
“Initially I came out, I met Paul Roos at an AFL Combine, they do USAFL Combines and there’s probably 120 players,” he said.
“I was in the very first group and there was only four of us.
“Paul identified me with the Swans and they flew me out for three weeks, I did some training.
“They offered me a contract and then I found out I had a stress fracture, which pretty much negated everything from happening.
“I was still keen to give footy a go, my manager who’s based here in Adelaide, put me in contact with Al Green, who was coaching Woodville Warriors at the time, and for me, it was go back home and work or play basketball.
“At that time, I chose to play basketball, and with that I did some training with the 36ers and worked with them and Woodville.
Despite not signing with the Swans, Starling remains close friends with Roos.
“I’m really good friends with Paul, that’s one of the things I was able to gain from that experience with the Swans,” he said.
“I was on the phone with him last week, and he plans to come over and watch me play.
After the Swans’ move fell through, he trained at Port Adelaide, but a deal never eventuated and he went back to playing with the Warriors.
“I was then introduced to someone who worked with Port Adelaide who’s a good friend of mine, he was able to get me noticed by the coaches and I was training with them, the 36ers and Woodville.”
“With no guaranteed contract, I’ve got to stick with the reason I’m here, to play basketball with Woodville and two I was trying to sustain some income while I was here,” he said.
Starling thought he’d eventually get to have his chance, with Adelaide Plains club Virginia, but Visa issues thwarted him.
“When I was at North Adelaide Rockets, my last club, I met Virginia coach Jamie Thomas and I met him through network marketing and at that time he knew he’d be the coach and knew my AFL background,” he said.
“He asked if I wanted to play footy and I said I was interested, and I had signed a contract.
“That was when I found out about the Visa situation and I could get in trouble legally.”
“Why would I give that up, work full-time and play basketball, but when the permanent residency came about, I don’t have any work restrictions, I’m a resident of Australia, I reached out at Jamie.”
Thomas is no longer at Virginia, but at Gawler Central, which got the ball rolling for a potential crack at Australian rules football.
“I had a meeting with them and I said I’m still keen to give it a crack,” he said.
“It’s now or never for me … and I’ll be able to satisfy that desire I had to play footy.
“They have a quality ruckman there right now, but they want me up forward to showcase my athleticism and kick some goals.
“Whatever he wants me to do it, I’m the ultimate teammate and ultimate competitor.”
Starling will continue playing basketball at the same time after signing with South Adelaide on Sunday.