Historic Milestone for Quinns Districts Starkick programWednesday, August 27, 2025 - 11:24 AM

Quinns Districts JFC has celebrated a proud moment in its history, recognising two of its inaugural Starkick players, Diesel and Dylan, as the first participants with disability at the club to achieve the 100 games played milestone.

The club, which launched its Starkick program in 2018, as only the fourth centre in Western Australia at the time, has seen the inclusive football program grow from just eight children in its first season to more than 24 participants taking the field each weekend through 2025.

In 2021, under the leadership of Starkick Coordinator Mark Clayton, the club moved to formally embed Starkick in its constitution and by-laws. With the support of the committee and secretary Sandra Dullard, changes were adopted at the 2021 AGM and came into effect in 2022, ensuring all Starkick players were recognised equally for games played, best and fairest votes, and other club privileges.

“There will always be doubters in life that resist change. But for me it’s always been simple - don’t give up on something you believe in – just find a way to make it happen.”

“Our committee believed in Starkick and backed it into our club’s by-laws. That decision has now allowed Dylan and Diesel to record 100 games and take their place on our honour boards. It’s a credit to our past and present committees for believing in inclusiveness at Quinns.”

On Saturday 23 August 2025, Diesel and Dylan’s achievements were celebrated with a special presentation. Their names will now join the club’s honour board of 100-game players, alongside notable past juniors such as AFL stars Stephen and Bradley Hill.

For Diesel’s father, Rob Tilbrook, the milestone carried special meaning.

“From being non-verbal, stand-offish and flapping constantly like a butterfly, Diesel was once destined to be in that bracket where you say,  ‘Mate unfortunately some things you can’t do like the others.’  But through the Starkick program, Diesel was given a whole new world - a team, a club, friendships. Today, eight years later, he’s a premiership Captain, about to play in his second Grand Final. I could not be more proud of the young man he has become.”

From its beginnings as a small group in 2018, the Starkick program at Quinns has become a shining example of how community clubs can open doors to football for every child, proving that when given the chance, all kids can achieve great things.