When former Kuwarna utility Shane Tongerie’s AFL career ended, he leaned on his family for support.

Having a strong family connection helped peak his interest in helping Aboriginal communities and the now 53-year-old found his true calling.

For the past 25 years, Tongerie has been working for the State Government in Aboriginal community service.

Currently, he is a Principal Consultant, providing culturally inclusive practice leadership in respect to operational and strategic interventions for Aboriginal children, young people and their families.

Tongerie's role is to share his expert cultural knowledge to achieve improved outcomes for Aboriginal children and young people across the state.

Speaking to AFC Media, Tongerie said his mother and grandfather once worked in similar roles and that led to his interest in the field.

“I am very lucky because my grandfather and mother were heavily involved in helping Aboriginal people navigate through the justice system in the 1960s and 1970s,” Tongerie said.

“I started my career in Youth Justice and part of my work was trying to reconnect youth with families in finding better pathways.

Tongerie said it was important to him to guide and support Aboriginal youth especially when entering the justice system.

“It’s rewarding to assist social workers and teach Aboriginal culture while supporting Aboriginal youth ” Tongerie, a father-of-two, said.

Taking it back to his football career, Tongerie was a lively utility from Central District, who Kuwarna recruited through the 1994 pre-season Draft.

“I was working at Telstra and received a phone call from a news reporter saying ‘congratulations you have just been drafted to the Crows',” Tongerie said.

 “I was drafted in March, and was required to be at the same level as the current AFL listed players but in a short space of time.

 “In the weeks leading up to my debut game I was put through strenuous training sessions both at Kuwarna and Central District."

Tongerie worked hard on and off the track to achieve his goal of playing AFL and when he finally got his chance to play AFL, Tongerie made it count for that debut game.

 His AFL debut was memorable, coming off the bench and kicking three goals against Brisbane in Round Six, 1994.

“I remember running onto the ground with my Kuwarna team and totally enjoyed every moment, especially kicking a goal from the pocket at the Gabba," he said.

Tongerie was also a member of the Aboriginal All Stars team which defeated Collingwood in Darwin in 1994 - and this would always be one of his favourite footballing memories.

But after four games his AFL career finished at the end of the 1994 season.

Tongerie said his time at Kuwarna was an “incredible and an amazing experience”.

Tongerie is still involved in the game and supports the Sturt Football Club as a forwards coach with the Club's Reserves side.

He also still keeps an eye on Kuwarna and is looking forward to the Club's match against Waalitj Marawar (West Coast) in the second week of Sir Doug Nicholls Round at Adelaide Oval on Sunday, May 26.

“The Indigenous Round is amazing and allows Aboriginal players to design incredible jumpers that invites everyone to understand Aboriginal culture,” Tongerie said.