Geelong celebrated fun, footy and community connection with the return of the AFL Community Camp in Warrnambool this week.

The Cats had more than 10,000 touch points with the local community across Monday and Tuesday, with AFL men’s and women’s players visiting schools, running an Auskick Footy 4 Fun clinic, and assisting with a special running of the Djilang Program on Gunditjmara Country.

The men’s team also held an open training session at Reid Oval, where four local players had the opportunity to play with the team, while more than 80 south-west coaches, club presidents and leadership players attended the Coaches and Leaders Forum run by the club.

Speaking at a press conference in Warrnambool, Geelong forward Tom Hawkins said it was an important belief of the club to give back to the communities that support it.

“For me as a player entering my 17th season, I see the impact it can have and has had with many people. It is really, really important and you can see the players and football administrators and staff genuinely like getting down here,” he said.

“As a young kid growing up in southern NSW, in the Riverina, I still remember vividly the first time I’d ever had an interaction with AFL players, and one of those players in now the senior coach of Adelaide (Matthew Nicks).

“I still remember the impact that it had to me and my friends and the community, for not only the time they were there, but the excitement and build-up to those Swans players arriving, and then once they left.

“From that point of view, I’ve seen over a long period of time now how important it is to be able to come to the community and have touchpoints along the way, whether it’s conversations at a school or kick-to-kick in a football program.”

The Community Camp was run with the support of AFL Victoria and AFL Western District.

Community Camp Wrap

• More than 10,000 community touchpoints
• More than 2,500 people at open training
• More than 6,000 students visited at 25 schools
• 250-plus Auskickers attended the Footy 4 Fun event
• 84 coaches, club presidents and leadership players from local clubs attended Coaches and Leaders Forum