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David Kantilla

1938 – 1978

Australian rules footballer

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About David Kantilla

Lived 1938 – 1978 (aged 39–40). David Kantilla was an Australian australian rules football player.

David Kantilla (1938 – 13 June 1978, traditional name Amparralamtua ) was an Australian rules footballer who is recognised as the first Indigenous Australian to play in the South Australian National Football League and the first Tiwi Islander to successfully play in a southern football league. Throughout his footballing career he was known by his 'Anglo' name David Kantilla but also had his tribal name of Amparralamtua.

Kantilla was born on Bathurst Island. Standing at 196 cm, Kantilla played as a ruckman for a couple of seasons with St Mary's in the Northern Territory Football League (NTFL) before joining South Australian National Football League (SANFL) club South Adelaide for the 1961 season and had an immediate impact, kicking six goals against Glenelg Football Club on debut and winning the club's best and fairest award in his first two seasons.

Nicknamed "Soapy" following the publication of a photograph showing him lathered in soap in a bath,

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Important facts

Born
1938, Bathurst Island
Birth century
Nationality

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped David Kantilla's

Frequently asked questions

Who was David Kantilla?

Australian rules footballer

When was David Kantilla born?

David Kantilla was born in 1938 in Bathurst Island.

When did David Kantilla die?

David Kantilla died on 13 June 1978 in Wurrumiyanga.

What was David Kantilla's occupation?

David Kantilla was an australian rules football player.

What nationality was David Kantilla?

David Kantilla was Australian.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: David Kantilla

· Wikidata: Q1174932

· DBpedia: David Kantilla

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). David Kantilla. https://biography.guide/david-kantilla/

MLA: "David Kantilla." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/david-kantilla/.

Chicago: "David Kantilla." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/david-kantilla/.

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