The pair headed north, Dick to Hedland SHS and Tunbridge to Newman SHS, to run Kicking Goals clinics and field questions from students from years eight to12, as well as share their expertise with some of the state’s potential future stars.
West Coast forward Dick said the trips are a particularly rewarding experience.
“As players, it’s great to be able to get out into the community and share these days with the kids up here.
“Being so far from the city, they don’t get the opportunity to see AFL games live too often, so to see how happy it makes them when we come out is extremely pleasing.”
Kicking Goals is one of Australia’s largest regional based AFL mentoring programs, combining sport-based initiatives to help high school students in the Pilbara towns of Port Hedland and Newman achieve better educational and employment outcomes.
The program is a curriculum-based initiative that utilises a reward and incentive system, where students are required to maintain certain key performance indicators to stay in the program and be eligible for various incentives, including visits by West Coast Eagles players.
“It’s not until you get out here you realise how important programs like this can be for kids in regional areas,” Dick said.
“A lot of the older students are about to make the transition from the country into the city, and it’s great to be able to give them some advice on how some of our players relocate successfully.”
West Coast Eagles players and staff make 10 visits to the Pilbara every year as part of the Kicking Goals program, where they conduct motivational talks and football clinics with students.
The West Coast Eagles would like to thank its principal community partner BHP Billiton for making Kicking Goals possible.
