PORT ADELAIDE defender Aliir Aliir finds it hard to believe he’s reaching his 150th AFL game this weekend, after being unsure early if he would even play one.  

Reflecting on his career ahead of the milestone, Aliir is particularly grateful for his mentors at former club Sydney that pushed him and taught him the value of hard work. 

Speaking with the Adelaide media on Wednesday, the 29-year-old spoke about what the milestone means, his own form, and the improved team connection over the last few weeks.  

Aliir on reaching his 150-game milestone 
“I haven't really sat down and had time to reflect with it. But I think it does mean a lot, considering where I've come from and not growing up with the game. And I guess just for myself, I hope to just give a chance to the African youth, multicultural kids that given the opportunity, you can do anything with your life and to be able to, to play 150 AFL games, it's pretty surreal. So yeah, it's a pretty proud moment for myself and my family. 

“Unfortunately, my mum won't be able to make it. But I've got mates from Perth and mates from Brisbane that are coming down. So it's just a good time just to be able to have them there because I haven’t seen some of them in a while. And for them to be able to book their flight and make it over here. Just kind of makes it how special it is for me and for the relationship I've been able to create with them.” 

Aliir on playing his milestone against his former club 
“Yeah, yeah, it is (cool). It’s pretty strange. And I had a few people ask me did I set it up that way, which was not the plan but yeah, I guess to be able to play 150 and to play against my old team. It's a little bit strange, but I think still a proud moment for myself and my family.” 

Aliir on the importance of being a role model to multicultural kids 
“It’s super. I think every year that I'm in the system, the more I embrace being that role model. I think now it's just an opportunity to obviously showcase what I do on the footy field. But I think the bigger impact that I can have is, you know, people of colour and people from different backgrounds seeing someone on TV that they don't usually see, you know, I think just hopefully it gives them hope to want to do something in life and to want to be able to chase being a professional athlete, or just doing something different in life, rather than getting yourself in trouble. So I'm embracing my role as a multicultural ambassador, and I'm embracing it every year.” 

Aliir on starting out in the AFL 
“I think just to play one game is tough. I think it took me three years at the Swans before I made my debut. So there were times where I thought I was never going to play a game of football, you know, I thought I’d just be in the system, and then go back and play local. But to get to 150, I've been in the system 11 years now. So it’s crazy if I think about it.” 

Aliir on his mentors at Sydney, early in his career 
“I was grateful that I went to a club like the Swans because obviously the leaders that they had there was tremendous. I had Rhyce Shaw, Jarrad McVeigh, Kieren Jack, Adam Goodes. And these guys, they really taught me what hard work was. I think being in the system I was just relying on my natural talent and that can only get you so far. I used to be doing my running and Rhyce Shaw would be screaming in the back of my ear saying ‘you got more in you’ and at the time I hated him, but you can understand why he was pushing me and wanted me to get better so I'm forever grateful that you know that I was over there and those leaders that supported me and really taught me what hard work is.” 

Aliir on the highlights of his career 
“I don’t know, I haven’t really had time to think. I think, obviously playing the first game back in Brisbane and having my whole family there, I think my brothers organised three mini buses and you know, they stayed in a hotel. I just remember going to the rooms after and just having the whole family that so that's probably number one, because I never thought that I'd be in Australia playing AFL football. Because back home, they still don't know what it is, they still think it’s soccer. outside. That’s probably one of the highlights, but I might have to sit back after the game and sort of reflect and see.” 

Aliir on taking on Sydney this weekend 
“Yeah, it is a big game. And, you know, obviously, the Swans, they're probably not going the way that they’d like the last five weeks. But for us, we're expecting their best. And, you know, from around one to 15, they were ranked (top) three in almost every stat there is so we're going to be expecting that on Saturday, even though they have dropped off a little bit. But then for us, it's just focusing on what we can do. You can see that second half, the way we were able to play, the way we were able to get the ball in our forward line, and you know, our defence was a lot better. So if we can bring that into the Swans and be able to limit them a few things, I think we’ll be able to get the job done.”  

Aliir on his own form 
“Obviously Goldy (defensive coach Tyson Goldsack) and Ken have been massive because I felt like that first half of the year, I was sort of in two minds being a natural instinct player, there were times where I sort of doubted myself to go, or do I wait, do I body my opponent, and I just had honest conversations with them. And they both essentially just said, you know, you’re at the point of your career, there's no need for you to be second guessing yourself. So I think it was just going back to me backing myself, if I see the ball, go get it, whether it's down there or up high. And that sort of just gave me the confidence to be able to go out and play. And I feel like I've been getting around the boys a lot, our connection has definitely got better. And I'm just trying to be a voice and a leader for the guys in defence.” 

Aliir on adjusting to new players in defence this year 
“No I don’t think (that’s why I was second guessing myself). Because you look at the first few games we played throughout the year, we played well together. And then we had a little patch where I think us as a team, it wasn't necessarily just the defence, us as a team weren't really connecting and as joined as we are now. So I think that played a part. And I'm not saying that me and the boys didn't connect or anything like that because we did play well in the first bit of the season, and then just sort of dropped away. And I think now we're starting to find a bit of form together.” 

Aliir on Esava Ratugolea in the forward line 
“He looked good didn’t he! What did he kick? 2.1? It gave us a different look up forward, he was clunking his marks. And he just felt comfortable out there. I’d hate to be the coaches, because you got to make a choice this weekend, whether you know, you keep him there or playing back. There are obviously a few boys that have got through training and trained alright. So, yeah, I liked him up there but I also like him down back. So whatever the coaches go with, you know, he's good addition to our team. He's embraced it. I mean, I spoke to him before the game and asked how are you feeling about it? He's like, man, you know, as long as I'm playing AFL footy, that's the goal. And you know, if I can play my role for the team, which he was able to do on the weekend, he’s very chill about it. I mean, it's not the first time he's played as a forward. He was down there in Geelong, and played a bit of ruck. I sort of had a little laugh with him after the game, because, you know, we threw him back at the end and said welcome back, you need to get in the ruck now and then you'll cover every single position. So we had a little laugh about that.” 

Aliir on leadership 
“It's a role that, I guess, each year I'm embracing, if I see something, I'm going to say it. I feel like I know the game very well. I know how the coaches want us to play. But it's just, you know, challenging these young guys that are obviously superstars of the game and to try and bring them up to the level that they're meant to be. Because if someone's going to take the club forward, it's this next crop that are coming through and, you know, we need us old heads to be able to keep them in check.” 

Aliir on the connection improving in the team 
“I think it's just enjoying it, because I think there were times where you would make mistake and you can see a few boys drop their head…I think it's just keeping the same energy regardless, play the way you want to play, mistakes are going to happen. And just making it more enjoyable and then getting around each other. I think our backline has been doing that pretty well, in terms of you know, if something happens, go after the mids, just say good work, if you can get to a forward, get to a forward. I think that keeps you in check, and it keeps everyone in check. And I think we're doing that very well. And it's a small thing, but it makes a huge difference when you're playing a game of football because the game itself, it's really, really tough. So you need to be able to stay connected in that aspect.” 

Aliir on wearing Sam Powell-Pepper’s #2 guernsey at training 
“Yeah so I've been wearing it the over the past three weeks now. And obviously he ran for the first time yesterday was which was great to see. And yeah, it's just kind of just representing him. And he loves me wearing it out there. So obviously he’d love to be out there and it's been a tough journey for him but it's good to see him ramping up his rehab now back running.”