In a team full of young talent, there is one player at Ainslie FC who provides the much needed experience.
Dale Argall has been with Ainslie since 2008 and has been helping his young team mates around the park for four seasons.
Affectionately known as "Pop", Argall is the elder statesman of the team and enjoys being a role model to the younger blokes.
The 33-year-old was introduced to AFL by his father at the age of six and has been playing ever since.
Argall’s junior football was played south of Ainslie, through the Tuggeranong ranks.
His senior debut came for the Tuggeranong Hawks in the late 90’s, and he went on to play for the Hawks for three more seasons before moving to Western Australia.
In 1999 Argall signed for Swan Districts in W.A. before moving on one year later to play for East Fremantle, who also competes in the Western Australian Football League (WAFL).
Having spent three seasons playing for East Fremantle he’s now back in Canberra and has been a key player since 2008.
Now in the final stretch of his career, Argall says he values the role model position he finds himself in.
"I hope what I’ve done shows them [team mates] how to go about playing football and behave off the field," Argall said.
"I don’t feel that there is any extra pressure. I just think going out and playing my natural game is part of my role is, just week in, week out consistency."
"It is something that I take a bit more pride in now, trying to lead by example in a few of those areas. Even if I’m not playing as good a football as I used to, but still doing the things that the team needs."
Argall now has a young family to look after as well as his football career. He said that the responsibilities that come from having a 3-year-old daughter and a 10-month-old son have made it harder to stay at the top of his game.
"Trying to balance the time is tough," Argall said.
"Still trying to play at this level requires a certain amount of time with fitness and practice, while also trying to be at home enough and find the balance is pretty difficult."
The time restraints are even tighter at a club that expects to challenge for honours each season like Ainslie.
Over the four years that Argall has been there, the veteran has noticed that the club has become very professional, with a clear idea of what they want.
Argall said that when he started in 2008 the club was still trying to figure out which way they wanted to go, but in the last two years the club has built a strong playing group and are able to set their goals high.
Argall also said that the club is similar to the teams he played with in the WAFL, in terms of what they expect for behaviour and training.
"The club are really goal focused and have come a really long way in the short time I have been there," Argall said.
His career is by no way over, but the Ainslie man said retirement has crossed his mind, but he still isn’t sure.
"It also depends on what I can offer the club and what they are expecting of me," Argall said
"If they are happy with what I am doing and they can see a role for me, then I am probably happy enough to go around again."
When he does eventually retire, Argall said that he would probably take a year or two off to give his wife some of his time, but he would like to stay involved with the game somehow.
But for now the focus is on the end of the NEAFL season, Ainslie’s last round fixture is against the high flying Sydney Swans. Argall is confident of his side’s chances in the finals and said that playing the Swans in the last round will be good for the side.
"We’ve played some qualities teams in the Northern Conference and one game we did very well, the other we were quite poor," Argall said.
"So this Sydney game will let the team know where we stand, and how we might have to lift leading into the finals."
Argall’s career may be slowly reaching the end, but the dedicated player is determined to help lead his team through the finals.
And who knows, maybe if they secure that repeat premiership, Argall might see it as the perfect moment to hang up the boots.
Last Modified on 24/08/2011 17:39