He hasn't laced up the boots for six years but Cawley's infectious attitude will be Ainslie's driving force against Eastlake in the AFL Canberra grand final at Manuka Oval on Sunday.

Cawley hasn't played since juniors after his case of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, which affects the nerves that control movement in the body, forced him to retire.

But he has stayed involved behind the scenes and he will be Ainslie's 23rd man on the biggest day of the year as the club eyes a three-peat and titles in all three men's senior grades.

"[The disease] affects my walking in regards to not having much muscle on my legs. I wear splint callipers to help me get around and drive, just in everyday life," Cawley said.

But he chose not to wear them during his playing days.

"I never had the greatest kick, but I felt like I did make my kick a little bit worse than what it was," Cawley said.

"I played juniors for Ainslie, I nearly played 100 games there. Unfortunately with my disability I had to give up playing, all the rest of the boys were getting too big for me."

His last game was one he will never forget. His under 16s division one teammates made a decision to make Cawley captain in 2012. He did the coin toss, led the team out, and won the flag.

While size forced him to hang up the boots, his imprint on the football club remains in its junior guidelines - the Nathan Cawley rule states "all players are afforded equal opportunity to play regardless of their skill level or sporting background".

But the involvement of the table tennis maestro, who has spent time in Australian Paralympic Games preparation squads was never going to stop there.

"I became more of a helper around the club, and when I turned 18 or 19 years old I moved to Singapore for three years with my parents so I was out of helping out with the club for about three years," Cawley said.

"Then I came back and I heard pre-season was on, so I gave [Ainslie coach Chris Rourke] a call and told him I’m keen to help out and get back into it for this year. He got me down to the training session that night and we sat down and had a little chat about what I could do."

They decided Cawley would look after statistics on game day, odd jobs at training like time keeping, and managing the club's social media channels. If you've ever checked out Ainslie's Facebook page, chances are you've seen Cawley serving up the hard hitting questions to players.

Tom Powell and Nelson Foley were part of that under 16s triumph in 2012 and they will look to add a senior title to their collection on Sunday.

Foley would love nothing more than to share it with a close mate and "the ultimate clubman" in Cawley, saying "it's pretty hard to get somebody like that so we're pretty lucky to have him".

They'll be especially lucky if they can finally convince him to add a few numbers in the stats column next to their names.

"We try and get him to put a couple of extra touches on for me and Nelson. He usually does the stats and he’ll come up with a good call here and there," Powell said.

"The way he is, he never lets anything get him down and everyone looks up to him and what he has accomplished. Hundred per cent, me and Nels love him to bits, the whole club does really.

"We all really look up to him, he’s a good bloke."

AFL CANBERRA GRAND FINALS

First grade - Ainslie Tricolours v Eastlake Demons at Manuka Oval, 2.30pm.

Second grade - Queanbeyan Tigers v Ainslie Tricolours at Manuka Oval, 12pm.

Rising Stars - Queanbeyan Tigers v Ainslie Tricolours at Manuka Oval, 9.30am.

Women's first grade - Eastlake Demons v Queanbeyan Tigers at Manuka Oval, 6pm.