The Australian Football League contest between the Pambula Panthers and the Bega-Tathra Kangaroos celebrated Neil Rainbow, a stalwart of Sapphire Coast AFL.

His final game for Pambula Panthers was marked with a goal and a guard of honour.

At 78, Rainbow is the oldest active Australian rules player in the country.

After more than 250 senior games in the Sapphire Coast AFL and having worn the colours of nearly every SCAFL club, he is calling full-time on his club days.

Moving to the area in 2003, Rainbow signed on with the Merimbula Marlins senior side aged 55.

Since then, he has won 10 national titles participating in Masters carnivals, along with 3 reserve-grade premierships.

Rainbow is a life member of SCAFL and AFL Masters Vic Metro, and in 2019 was named the Bega Valley Sportsperson of the Year at the age of 70.

He has also been closely involved with the Primary Schools Sports Association representative team for more than 15 years.

Rainbow continues to keep fit and enthused, looking ahead to many more weekends running water for the Panthers, umpiring junior grades, and playing for Vic Metro at the next AFL Masters carnival coming up in September.