Keith traveled almost four hours from his remote Aboriginal community of Ngukurr in the Northern Territory for a game of footy on the weekend.

The father of 10 lined up on a half-forward flank for the Ngukurr Bulldogs in the pre-season carnival at Katherine.

He moved like a man half his age against the Katherine South Crocs with some startling tackles on players younger than his own children.

"I feel fine, didn't pull up sore at all and I'm very healthy," he said after training back home this week.

"I'll play 'til I break a leg or something like that."

It was the first hit out for the Dogs in a side which fielded players as young as 16, and is training hard to press for selection in round one this weekend.

A legend even outside of football, Keith is also a radio DJ having studied a Bachelor of Media in Sydney 'during my younger time'.

Keith says he's just like many other Indigenous players in that he was 'kicking 'round a footy' from before he can remember and has "no idea" how may games he has played in his long career.

Yet what makes him special as a footballer and person is despite turning 62 this September he has no intention of slowing down.

"I don't want to stop playing football, why would I stop?" he said.

"I'm ready to play round one, you've got to go down and prove yourself, go quick until they say you can stop," Keith said.

According to the man himself the secrets to his success aren't complicated - he simply runs every day, lifts weights religiously in his room and pays close attention to his diet.

Keith says he has a staunch stance against the fast-food and soft-drinks which have become staples for too many in his community.

"It's all about watching what you eat and what you do in life, the diet is really bad here you know," he said.

"Instead of eating the bush food which is healthy like fish or meat you hunt for yourself, they prefer all the soft drinks and takeaway you can get from the shop.

"Now we have all these kinds of fast foods in the community everybody's eating, I tell them why don't you just stick to Weetbix? I eat it every day.

"I don't drink any of those things only orange juice, milk and mostly water.

"I don't take any of those sugary things, even I found just changing from white to brown sugar if I have tea or something makes a big difference for me," Keith said.

He said footy was a healthy outlet for many in his community of about 750 people and reckons the Bulldogs can snatch the premiership from Katherine Camels this year.

Kalano Bombers also impressed the old-timer with their skills and speed while defeating Ngukurr in their first game, so he's especially looking forward to evening the score when they face in round three.

Outside of footy Keith says he still enjoys a couple of beers, but likens drugs and cigarettes to throwing your health in the bin.

"I don't know why anybody would take up smoking I hate it, and I always tell the boys when we go up training they need to try and get off that stuff.

"Some of them listen to me but even some of my own kids are out smoking now, its just wasting your life away, throwing it out in the trash like it's nothing.

"Footy is to stop you from thinking of drugs and alcohol and all that bad stuff, get moving so you can work and be busy, to get you out of the lifestyle we see sometimes here with those things.

"We've got a local comp here too we used to play and I hope it comes back, but I like playing football because it helps me to stay fit and positive about that negative stuff," he said.

Looking forward, Keith says he'd like to go down South and play football in the Adelaide Hills again "once all this COVID stuff blows over".

"I used to play down there for a side down there called the Kangaroos," he said.

"I've got a lot of friends who were stolen but we've found them down there now.

"I don't see why I couldn't play a few seasons still there as well, so I think I'll go back to my old team in Adelaide," Keith said.

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