GEELONG trio Mathew Stokes, Ryan Gamble and Harry Taylor were kings of the kids this afternoon, as the Cats rounded out their Community Camp on the Gold Coast with a series of school visits.

Stokes, Gamble and Taylor received a rousing reception at Coomera Anglican College, arriving to the strains of Paul Kelly’s ‘From little things, big things grow’ and being treated to a rendition of the school war cry – at a decibel level that would have done the MCG proud on grand final day.

Stokes, a key player for the Cats in the run to the 2007 premiership, said he enjoyed the opportunity to spread the football message, particularly with the start of the AFL season little more than a month away.

“The welcome we got here was definitely a bit different, but they are obviously passionate about their sport and it was great,” Stokes said.

“Getting out and promoting the game is a great concept and something we should continue to do – especially in places like the Gold Coast where it isn’t necessarily AFL orientated.

“The off-season has gone really quick and with the season drawing near it’s also great to have a couple of days away to relax and take our minds off being at the club day-in, day-out.

“I reckon it’s come at a really good time for us.”

The crowd of about 150 primary school-aged students from the college enthusiastically bombarded the visiting Cats with a wide range of questions – from “what do you eat?”, to “do you have any pets?” and “are you friends with players from other clubs?”.

Mature age draftee Taylor’s thoughts on what constitutes leadership were particularly well received, with the 21-year-old providing an example his young audience could easily translate to the playground.

A high-flying game of kick-to-kick among the Geelong trio also captured the imagination of the student body.