As a former A-grade player and life member of the Edwardstown Football Club, Ian Schunke has an enduring passion for footy.

However, the 76-year-old resident of Life Care’s Parkrose Village could never have envisaged that his life-long love of the game would put him on centre stage at SA’s biggest football event - the first Balfours Showdown of 2012.

In one of the proudest selection outcomes of his footy career, Ian was chosen to present the Showdown Medal to the best player of the much-awaited contest between Adelaide and Port Adelaide AAMI Stadium on Sunday, April 29.

And, as a dedicated Adelaide Crows fan, he was delighted to shake hands with Patrick Dangerfield and hand over the medal after the Crows' 19-point victory.

The occasion followed a visit to Parkrose Village by rival coaches Brenton Sanderson and Matthew Primus. After talking with media representatives, Brenton and Matthew mingled with Life Care residents, family members, staff and volunteers.

The Balfours Showdown XXXII media conference was a headline event in the unique partnership between Life Care and the Adelaide Football Club to pay tribute to senior footy fans in the community and to portray older South Australians in a positive light.

Ian attended the Showdown with other Life Care residents, Betty Kennedy from Reynella Lodge and Val Baron from Parkrose Village.

He spoke with unbridled joy about the relationship between Life Care and the Adelaide Football Club and the visits by players and coaches to meet aged care residents.

“The enthusiasm the residents of our villages have generated is incredible,” he said.  “I never realised they were so intense with their enthusiasm for the game.  It’s great.

“Footy gives us a fantastic interest base. People you would think were not interested in sport at all are so intense with their interest in the AFL.

“The partnership Life Care has with the Adelaide Football Club, and the interest return from the club, is incredible. A month ago we had two of the Crows’ leading players come down and speak to us and the residents loved it. It was terrific.

“Presenting the medal is more than I ever thought I was destined for. It is fantastic.”

Life Care’s Chief Executive Officer, Allen Candy, said the partnership with the Adelaide Crows had generated a great amount of excitement.

“A lot of our residents watch the footy on TV or listen on the radio, but they can’t go to games. We’ve been able to bring a sense of community and excitement through the visits by players and the rival coaches.

“Adelaide Football Club should be very proud of the players and the way they present themselves. We’ve had a lot of young men come into a nursing home environment and they have conducted themselves exceptionally well.

“The interesting thing in the feedback from players is that they really love doing this sort of thing. People are so happy to see them just enjoying themselves without any pressure, and the players have responded to that in a very positive way.”