By Casey Neill
MOUNT Evelyn Football Netball Club has been Daniel Thiele’s life – and now it’s official.
The club recently awarded the 35-year-old life membership at its presentation night at York on Lilydale.
“You understand that eventually something like that is available to you through putting your neck on the line all the time,” he said.
“But it was a surprise. I got pretty emotional about it all.”
He was the only person to receive the honour on the night.
“I’ve been the only one awarded in the past three years I think,” he said. Mr Thiele started playing junior footy in 1984.
“I started when I was about seven, just wandering down to have a look at the place when we heard the whistles,” he said.
“It sort of flowed through from there, so I started playing junior football.”
He played every grade through the juniors before starting in the seniors in 1991, when aged 16.
“I was pretty young, because we didn’t have an under-18s side to progress into,” he said.
Mr Thiele played on the half back flank in the 1998 senior premiership side and was appointed co-captain with Jason Leeds the following year. He took over as sole firsts captain in 2000 and held the role until 2005, when a serious knee injury cut short his 179-senior game career.
But that wasn’t the end of his club involvement.
“My parents, Chris and Wendy, are life members and have always been part of the committee, so I think the family trait was to get involved on the committee side of things,” he said.
Mr Thiele served on the social committee in 1997 and 1998, joined the senior committee as the player representative in 1997 and stayed on the committee for a further nine years. He took on the head barman role for three years, was chairman of selectors in 2005, 2006 and 2007 and relays messages to players each Saturday afternoon as the team runner for the senior side.
The club has long been a big part of his life.
“It has actually been my life, if you know what I mean,” he said.
“The three blokes I had in my bridal party were all blokes I met through the football club.
“My fondest memories are probably getting to play with my two brothers in the firsts. It has been a pleasure.”
A person can qualify for Mount Evelyn Football Netball Club life membership after 12 years continuous service or 15 years broken service. Mr Thiele has done more than enough to deserve the honour.
“My wife Chantal actually became involved as well. She was treasurer of the senior club for three years,” he said. “We all enjoy being there together.
“I can’t stress enough how much of a family oriented club it is and what a great place it is to be.”
Mr Thiele will stay involved with the club. As well as his runner duties each Saturday, he’s the vice president of the seniors, lends a hand in the football department and “general helping around the club.”
“I’ll be more involved in juniors next year with my eldest son (Declan, 7) starting,” he said.
Youngest son, Khalen, 3, is still a while from pulling on the boots. “He’s down there all the time though,” Mr Thiele said.
“Every night I get home he wants to have a game of footy.”
