Kenyan-born Sydney Swans star Aliir Aliir wants to continue to inspire the next generation of new arrivals as he moves to the 50-game mark and beyond.

The rising defender, born to Sudanese parents in a Kenyan refugee camp, will remind the masses of his breathtaking journey as he runs out for his 50^th AFL match as Sydney meets St Kilda on Saturday afternoon.

Aliir will quietly place a tick on the 50-game milestone as the SCG plays host to Lance Franklin’s 300^th AFL match, the swansongs of club greats Jarrad McVeigh and Kieren Jack and the annual Pride Game.

But while his milestone match is certain to play second fiddle to the trove of other storylines surrounding the final-round clash, Aliir is intent on continuing to shine a light for kids from other countries.

“Early on I didn’t really see myself as an inspiration or a role model, but because of the position I’m in I’ve come to embrace the role,” Aliir told SwansTV.

“I want to help young kids from other countries coming through and let them know that you can make it to the top level in whatever you do if you give it 100 per cent.”

Aliir was born in Kenyan refugee camp Kakuma after his parents had made a desperate dash from Sudan, which had been torn apart by a civil war between the north and south.

Aliir’s father, Mayom, died in the camp when Aliir was seven, and at the age of eight he’d depart for Australia with surviving members of his family. 

Aliir and his family first settled in Sydney, relocated to Newcastle and moved on to Brisbane, before Aliir – who had taken up Australian rules football with the Aspley Hornets – left for Perth in 2013 to play for East Fremantle in the WAFL.

But less than a year later he’d swap the blue and white of East Fremantle with the red and white of the Swans, signing with Sydney via pick 44 at the 2013 AFL Draft.

The 195-centimetre giant made his AFL debut in Round 6, 2016, and while an outstanding 2016 campaign would be followed by an underwhelming 2017 season, he hasn’t missed a senior match since returning for Round 13, 2018.

While Aliir’s ability to play on talls and smalls, prolific intercept marking and tidy ball use have seen him blossom into a gun defender, the 24-year-old has also played vital roles in the ruck.

His around-the-ground follow-up work was crucial to last Friday’s comprehensive victory over Melbourne, and he is now on the cusp of a battle with St Kilda big man Rowan Marshall.

Aliir credits his thriving recent form to a single-minded focus.

“On the back of the strong finish to last year I wanted to come in with momentum and keep it going,” Aliir said.

“I wasn’t necessarily thinking, ‘I want to play every game’; I’ve just been taking it week by week and have been getting my job done.

“I guess this year things have changed a bit with me playing in a different position, and it’s good the coaches trust me in playing different roles.

“There are a lot of people who are helping me look after my body, get up for games and do my job every week.”