Western Bulldogs players Harvey Gallagher, Cody Weightman and James O'Donnell (L-R) brought some excitement to kids at Ballarat Base Hospital. Image: Western Bulldogs Media
It has been a busy few weeks across Victoria as AFL clubs have descended onto regional towns as part of the annual AFL Community Camps program. These camps provide an important opportunity for AFL clubs to help grow the game from a grassroots level and give back to the passionate regional communities that are the lifeblood of the national game.
From visiting junior clubs, schools and hospitals to taking part in clinics and attending community events, more than 700 AFL players met with fans, recognised local heroes and inspired the next generation.
Melbourne - Mansfield/ Bright/ Benalla/ Euroa/Violet Town - 25-26 November
The Demons where the first club to hold their Community Camp, with school visits in Yea, Seymour, Euroa and Mansifeld.
Jack Viney kept the kids entertained with an impressive backflip in a classroom in Euroa, whilst Koltyn Tholstrup and Daniel Turner held a Q&A and signing session with the young fans. Next the players headed to Mansfield to put on an Auskick clinic and signing sessions for the locals.
Young footballers of various ages rotated through groups hosted by the players, who put on a mixture a training drills and games for the Mansfield youngsters.
Essendon - Gisborne - Castlemaine - Bendigo South - 2-3 December
Essendon kicked off their visit to Bendigo and surrounds with visits to 10 primary schools (engaging with approximately 400 kids) across Gisborne, Castlemaine and Bendigo, including to Kalianna Special School and Bendigo & District Aboriginal Co-operative (BDAC). The players also participated in a cultural session at Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Cooperation (DJAARA), which included a Welcome to Country, a Didgeridoo performance and a smoking ceremony.
There was much excitement when star midfielder Jye Caldwell paid a visit to his old primary school, Maiden Gully, alongside Essendon Wheelchair Football finalist Caleb Logan who also visited his former school.
Players held a NAB AFL Auskick/Superkick session that afternoon with over 100 local kids joining in across two ovals at Epsom Huntly Recreation Reserve, where the kids got the chance to meet their heros and get autographs and photos with them at the conclusion of the session.
Western Bulldogs - Ballarat, Ararat, Stawell, Horsham - 10-11 December
The Western Bulldogs' visit to Ballarat and the surrounding areas saw over 3,000 students engaged across 37 school visits, and approximately 400 participants joined in across four Come & Play Super Clinics in Ballarat, Ararat, Stawell and Horsham, as well as 30 participants at the Ballarat Bulldogs All Abilities FNC.
Players paid a special visit to 20 kids in the childrens ward of Ballarat Base Hospital (Grampians Health), as well as meeting staff at the Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute, and engaging with members of the GWV Rebels Coates Talent League program.
The kids in Horsham were delighted to meet hometown hero Joel Freijah, who was drafted to the Bulldogs from the GWV Rebels at Pick 45 in the 2023 National Draft.
Carlton - Bendigo - 3-4 February
Carlton headed down the highway to Bendigo in the first week of February, with a busy two days of visiting hospitals, schools, NAB AFL Auskick clinics and La Trobe University's Bendigo campus for a Welcome to Country. Day one started off with a special visit by star players including Charlie Curnow to staff and patients at Bendigo Health.
As well as having teammates with a connection to the area, the group enjoyed getting to know the long history that Carlton and Bendigo have shared for many years – including meeting the Blues’ oldest living player Bill Redmond (currently 97 years old).
Geelong - Surf Coast and Colac Otway - 4-5 February
Geelong's Community Camp began down the Surf Coast with school visits and a free community forum in Torquay, where local footy commitee members, club coordinators and coach got to hear from a panel of Geelong Cats experts.
The Cats continued on to Colac the following day for a Come & Play clinic at Central Reserve, Colac, where kids got to practise their skills and meet their favourite players before they began their own AFL Open Training Session.
North Melbourne - Shepparton & Wyndham - 10-11 February
Skipper Jy Simpkin was among the Kangaroos to revisit his roots during the Community Camp in February. The Roos visited Simpkin's old primary school at Mooroopna, just outside of Shepparton, whilst Eddie Ford took part in a footy clinic in Hoppers Crossing, not far from where he grew up playing his junior footy in Melbourne's western suburbs.
Forward Nick Larkey hit the classroom with primary school students in Werribee as the Kangaroos launched their GOAL! program, which offers free curriculum-based lessons to combine STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) and sports in schools.
Other camps in Victoria included Richmond in Wangaratta and Wodonga - 3-4 February, St Kilda in Portsea/Sorrento - 5-6 February and Collingwood in Warragul/Drouin - 11 February.
As in previous years, Hawthorn visited Tasmania for their Communtity Camp.