IF SYDNEY Swans co-captain Brett Kirk could choose how people viewed him as a leader, “honest and compassionate” would do him just fine.

In the lead-up to his 200th game on Saturday against Fremantle at Subiaco, Kirk said his unorthodox path to an AFL career had given him a different perspective on the game to many of his teammates.

“I really just try to walk in people’s shoes and try to see it through their eyes. We can be honest and let people know where they sit, but also you come on the other side and sometimes people need to be picked up,” Kirk said on Tuesday.

“I have walked a different road to get here so for the young players, they can look to me and know that I’ve had different experiences.”

Different is right.

Kirk began his AFL journey on the Swans’ supplementary list the mid-1990s, playing several games in the reserves.

He was initially cut at the end of 1996 but he earned a reprieve two years later when he was drafted as a Swans rookie for the 1999 season.

He made his AFL debut in round 19, 1999 against North Melbourne and booted three goals to celebrate the occasion, but his career didn’t flourish until incumbent Swans coach Paul Roos handed him a tagging role in the midfield in 2003.

The rest, as they say, is history: two Bob Skilton Medals, All-Australian, two-time International Rules representative, Swans co-captain for five years and the big one: the 2005 premiership medallion.

Kirk freely admitted he wasn’t blessed with the natural footballing gifts that many of his contemporaries enjoyed, but he compensated with his determination.

“There would be a lot more talented people out there that haven’t come this far, but I was willing to do anything to be here and to stay here,” he said.

“I was willing to fight and not give up, basically, and if it meant fighting someone to get here, I was willing to do anything.

“One of the things that’s held me in good stead is perseverance, just to never give up.

“Coming to a footy club, if I was going to talk about things that the players need, one is a strong work ethic. That’s how you get respect from the players around you.”

As he enters the later years of his career, the 32-year-old said passing his knowledge to the younger Swans was an increasingly important priority.

“I’ve opened my eyes and my awareness to people around me this year,” he said.

“We’ve got guys in the middle tier stepping up in that leadership role and I try to act as their mentor because I feel that one of my main roles now is to [ensure] when I do walk out of this club, that it’s going to be in good hands.”

Kirk said he had tried to detach himself from the “spiritual leader” tag that has followed him in recent years, but he conceded it would always be a compliment.

Above all, the Albury native said he was simply grateful to still be playing.

“I’m proud to play my 200th game… every game of footy’s important and every game I’ve played for a long time has been like my last game of footy,” Kirk said.

“I feel a bit weird standing up here taking all the kudos, because there’s so many people along the way – in terms of my life and my footy career – that have had so much influence over me. Hopefully I’ll be able to get to thank them all.”