Cervantes. Northam. Newman. Port Hedland.
Those were just some of the locations the West Coast Eagles ventured to for the club’s 2019 AFL Community Camp this week.
The majority of the squad were up at the crack of dawn on Tuesday to make the more than two-hour drive towards Cervantes.
Groups of three players stopped at various schools along the way – including Two Rocks Primary School, Bullsbrook College, Bindoon Primary School, Immaculate Heart College and Badgingarra Primary School – where they delivered the club’s award-winning Eagles Rock My School program.
After reaching Cervantes, the players made tracks in different directions to touch base with children living in some famous towns of the Wheatbelt area.
Speaking at Jurien Bay Primary School, premiership hero Jeremy McGovern said he loved participating in the club’s annual Community Camp pilgrimages.
“It’s good to come out to the country and give back to our fans out here that don’t get the experience of coming out and seeing us too often," McGovern said.
Cervantes Primary School students were treated to a special appearance from local hero Mark LeCras, who joined senior coach Adam Simpson, premiership utility Daniel Venables, emerging midfielder Brayden Ainsworth and two-time John Worsfold medallist Elliot Yeo at his old stomping ground.
LeCras showed off the 2018 AFL Premiership Cup around his school while Yeo spoke to the media about his love for community camps.
“I’m a bit of a city boy, but I love getting out to the country,” Yeo said.
“The enthusiasm that you see in the kids, that’s what Community Camp is all about. I remember when I was a kid and you’d have players come out and run clinics or have a chat, you would be super excited.
“I guess it’s just giving back and enjoying every moment that they have.”
The centrepiece of West Coast’s expedition to Cervantes was a free football superclinic held at the home of the Cervantes Tiger Sharks.
More than 150 children participated in the clinic, which was coordinated by the players and various members of the senior coaching panel.
A group of approximately 20 adults were also treated to an insightful coaching seminar with Adam Simpson.
The club capped off its visit to Cervantes by hosting a panel night at the local country club, which was attended by more than 180 locals.
On Wednesday the players, coaches and staff visited a variety of regional and metropolitan community hubs, including the Shire of Dandaragan, Joondalup Health Campus and the WA Police Academy.
Further north, Nic Naitanui, Fraser McInnes, contested ball coordinator Adrian Hickmott, Luke Shuey, Mark Hutchings and forwards coach Jaymie Graham embarked on a tour of the Pilbara region.
Naitanui, McInnes and Hickmott coordinated Kicking Goals sessions for Hedland Senior High School students and a Strength 2 Succeed training session for talented athletes Tuesday before travelling to the remote community of Warralong, where they visited children at Strelley Remote Community School and hosted an Eagles Faction Footy tournament.
Shuey, Hutchings and Graham delivered the award-winning Kicking Goals program to Newman Senior High School students, ran a Strength 2 Succeed session and hosted a sportsman’s night at the Newman Hotel on day one before travelling to the regional community of Jigalong on Wednesday, where they engaged with Jigalong Remote Community School students and also ran an Eagles Faction Footy competition.
In total, the West Coast Eagles visited 39 schools and more than 6,000 students, 17 community organisations and two remote Aboriginal communities.
The club also hosted two free community football clinics, two panel nights, a business breakfast function in Northam and raised thousands of dollars for local football in the regions.
The West Coast Eagles 2019 AFL Community Camp would not be possible without the help of the club's Principal Community Partner, BHP.
