THERE was a significant but unreported moment at Jason Culina's Gold Coast press conference this week.

Racing from my regular day job to the exclusive Southport School training grounds for the lunchtime presser, I was madly searching for a car space when I saw a well-dressed man and his teenage son walking calmly down the tree-lined footpath together. Both looked very happy and serene in each other's company, as if they didn't have a care in the world.

I looked again and saw that it was Miron Bleiberg and Jason Culina, sharing a joke as they marched down to the waiting camera crews on the training pitch.

But that's not the moment I'm talking about.

In real life, Culina is much shorter than you would expect, and at nearly thirty years of age he still looks very young. Wearing jeans, sneakers and a white Gold Coast United shirt, he hardly looked like a man worth several million dollars. He hardly behaved like one either.

Despite exuding an unmistakable air of quiet confidence, Culina was almost shy in front of the media pack. He spoke softly and often looked down, or away from the cameras, making it difficult to even get a good photo of him.

He politely fielded the totally predictable reporters' questions. Wasn't he crazy to leave a big club like PSV for the Gold Coast? Well, no. Did he really believe the Gold Coast could go through the season undefeated? Well (deep sigh) he always aimed to win every game.

"So how do you plan to bond with your new team-mates?" asked an attractive lady from a local radio station, to muffled snickers from her fellow professionals.

"Well, training is the best way," replied Culina innocently, probably knowing nothing at all about the NRL's latest dramas.

The questions were done, the cameras stopped rolling, and Jason Culina was free to go. It was Miron's turn to face the media. And that's when the moment happened.

Miron, who of course knew all about the Andrew Johns saga, was eager to contrast the excellent character of his new star player. Jason Culina, he eagerly explained to reporters, was a healthy, clean-living young man, even if he was a bit humble and shy in front of the media.

"But don't worry," he joked. "We'll get that out of him."

Now, I'm not having a go at Miron. I understand exactly where he was coming from. But his comment got me thinking.

By accepting the captain's role at new Gold Coast United club, Jason Culina is stepping way outside his comfort zone. He is pushing himself to a new level, not just as a player but as a human being.

Culina has not played in an attacking role for many years, but he is still confidently backing himself to hit the net on a regular basis. He has reportedly never been the captain of a senior squad, but he's already setting the Socceroos captaincy as a viable target.

He has never been the front man for a glamour club, but now he is stepping in front of the cameras with a relaxed demeanor and a wry smile, sure of his abilities and comfortable with his decision. How cool is that? How many readers of this blog would be prepared to do the same, in Culina's position?

Jason's not only defying Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek to pursue his dream, he is also sacrificing a small fortune to help Australian football rise to the next level. Again, how many readers would be prepared to do the same, in Culina's position?

Australian football needs Jason Culina. As last year's crowd statistics showed, the domestic game needs to rise to the next level if the sport is to maintain momentum in the lead-up to the World Cup.

Along with two new teams in the A-League, players like Culina and Robbie Fowler are just what the doctor ordered. Welcome home, mate.

CODA:
A few years ago, Branko Culina told the Sydney Morning Herald an illuminating story The family had just moved house and Branco was out in the garden when he heard a noise from his kids. Jason was jumping from the verandah onto a trampoline. His older brother Dean was tossing balls into the air and Jason was bouncing high to kick the ball. He didn't stop until he had done the perfect scissors kick.

""Everything he did, even in those days, he aimed for perfection," recalled Branco.

More than 20 years later, the same passion is obviously still burning. Strap yourselves in, folks - it's going to be a fun season!