The West Coast Eagles ‘Eagles Rock My School’ (‘ERMS’) program launched a new opportunity for primary school students this week, as the first ‘Junior Reporter’ interviews took place with children from Bateman and Kalannie Primary Schools putting some hard-hitting questions to Eagles stars Ash Smith and Adam Selwood.

In a new West Coast Eagles community initiative, students are given the opportunity to become the Eagles Junior Reporter and interview a player during an ERMS visit. The interview can then be viewed on the West Coast Eagles website for a week.

Bateman Primary School students Marizka Cremer and Alexandra McKenzie kicked off the exciting new initiative as they put the hard questions to Eagles defender Ash Smith. Smith remained cool, calm and collected as he was forced to share with a captivated Bateman Primary audience little known facts about himself, such as his most embarrassing football moment.

He said it was rare that children got an opportunity to ask AFL players questions in such an up-close and personal manner and was happy to be a part of the program.

“It is a really exciting concept and not something I’ve had to do before. Some of the questions the kids ask take you by surprise because they’re a bit different to what we’re used to,” Smith said.

Kalannie Primary School student Bonnie Bywaters was the next Eagles Junior Reporter to grab the microphone as she and Eagles senior player Adam Selwood went head to head surrounded by students from Kalannie, visiting Subiaco Oval as part of their school camp.

Creator of the Eagles Junior Reporter concept and Schools and Community Program Co-ordinator Kim Hannah said the idea offered schools and students a really unique opportunity to meet and interact with their football heroes and was a great supplement to the ERMS program.

“The club does a number of ERMS visits to primary schools across Western Australia throughout the year and to be able to offer these schools and students the opportunity to speak to a player one-on-one is something that we’re hoping the kids really enjoy,” Hannah said.

Eagles Rock My School is West Coast’s classroom-based primary school education program that includes a 30-40 minute presentation by program co-ordinator, Hannah or former Eagles Brad Smith and David Hynes. It also features special appearances by club mascot 'Rick the Rock Eagle'.

Each year, over 200 schools and 50,000 students are visited by the Eagles Rock My School program which is proudly supported by West Coast’s principal community partner BHP Billiton Iron Ore.