The AFL is pleased to announce the remaining dates and locations for the 2017 Australia Post AFL Community Camps which see all 18 AFL Clubs visit both metropolitan locations and regional centres.
The Fremantle Football Club kicked off the Australia Post AFL Community Camps recently with nine players visiting Broome in Western Australia.
With all 18 AFL Clubs participating, the Australia Post AFL Community Camps see over 750 players each spending two days meeting fans and developing stronger links between Australian Football and the community.
AFL General Manager Game and Market Development, Simon Lethlean, said the Australia Post AFL Community Camps are an important vehicle in recognising that grassroots football and the community are the lifeblood of Australia’s Game.
“The Australia Post AFL Community Camps allow us to highlight the connection Australian Football has with communities right around the country,” Mr Lethlean said.
“Following the success of part one of the Fremantle Football Club’s Australia Post AFL Community Camp in Broome, we’re excited the remainder of their squad and the other 17 clubs will visit fans across all corners of Australia in early 2017.
“Community Camps are the perfect platform for fans, no matter where they live across our wide country, access to their favourite players.
“Many of the clubs have also aligned their Australia Post AFL Community Camp locations to their Next Generation AFL Club Academies.
“The academies are designed to utilise the strength of clubs to grow and develop our game, and ensure it’s representative, inclusive and embraces gender and cultural diversity,” he said.
During the 2016 Australia Post AFL Community camps, over 147,102 school students had visits from AFL players with 823 schools being visited. 4,913 children participated in AFL super clinics, 2,600 people were visited in aged care/hospitals and funds were raised through official functions to assist local junior community football programs.
Andrea Pearman, General Manager of Marketing and Community Relations at Australia Post said: “AFL is a fantastic way to bring people from all walks of life together. A common love of footy can help break down barriers and build social connection. The Australia Post AFL Community Camps provide access to our national game for communities and individuals who may not have the opportunity to enjoy everything the AFL and its clubs have to offer. The camps form part of Australia Post’s ongoing commitment to building healthier, more vibrant and inclusive communities”.
The Australia Post AFL Community Camps started in 2003 and so far have reached a total of 1,118,278 students across 5,873 school visits since the program’s inception.
2017 Australia Post AFL Community Camps:
| AFL CLUB | LOCATIONS* | 2017 DATES* | ||
| Adelaide | · Port Augusta, South Australia | · 27-28 February | ||
| Brisbane Lions | · Sunshine Coast, Queensland
· Darling Downs, Queensland · Bundaberg, Queensland · Hervey Bay, Queensland · Maryborough, Queensland |
· 21-22 February | ||
| Carlton | · Northern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria (Cities of Banyule, Darebin, Nillumbik and Whittlesea)
· Shire of Hepburn/Mt Alexander (Daylesford, Hepburn Springs, Trentham, Newstead, Ballan & Gordon), Victoria |
· 9-10 February
|
||
| Collingwood | · City of Monash, Victoria
· Wangaratta, Victoria · Tennant Creek, Northern Territory |
· 21-22 February
· 21-23 February (Tennant Creek) |
||
| Essendon | · Sunbury/Craigieburn, Victoria
· Kyabram/ Rochester, Victoria |
· 9-10 March (Sunbury/Craigieburn)
· 13-14 March (Kyabram/Rochester) |
||
| Fremantle | · Metropolitan Perth, Western Australia | · 14 and 16 March | ||
| Geelong Cats | · Corio, Norlane, North Geelong, Bell Post Hill, Bell Park and North Shore, Victoria
· Warrnambool, Victoria |
· 23-24 February | ||
| Gold Coast SUNS | · Gold Coast, Queensland
· Cairns, Queensland · Rockhampton, Queensland · Gladstone, Queensland |
· 27-28 February (Gold Coast and regional locations)
· 3 March (Gold Coast) |
||
| GWS GIANTS | · Western Sydney, New South Wales
· Northern Riverina and Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, NSW · Canberra, ACT and South Coast, NSW |
· 21-22 February (Western Sydney)
· 19-20 February (Northern Riverina & MIA) · 14 February (Canberra & South Coast) |
||
| Hawthorn | · Tasmania
· Katherine, Northern Territory |
· 15-18 February | ||
| Melbourne | · The cities of Casey, Stonnington, Glen Eira, Boroondara, Victoria | · 28 February – 1 March | ||
| North Melbourne | · Tasmania | · 27-28 February | ||
| Port Adelaide | · Riverland, South Australia
· Broken Hill, New South Wales |
· 13-14 February | ||
| Richmond | · Shire of Cardinia, Victoria
· Swan Hill, Victoria · Kerang, Victoria · Mildura, Victoria |
· 13-14 February | ||
| St Kilda | · Hastings/Western Port, Victoria
· City of Kingston, Victoria · South Gippsland, Victoria |
· 17-18 February | ||
| Sydney | · Sydney City, New South Wales
· Wollongong, Bowral, Newcastle, Port Macquarie, Terrigal, Armidale, Wagga Wagga, Coffs Harbour and Tamworth, NSW |
· 6-7 February | ||
| West Coast Eagles | · Geraldton, Western Australia
· Port Headland, WA · Karratha, WA · Newman, WA · Metropolitan Perth, WA |
· 23-26 February (Geraldton)
· During the week of 20-24 February (Port Headland, Karratha, Newman, Perth Metro) |
||
| Western Bulldogs | · Ballarat
· Horsham |
· 20-21 February | ||
