DRIVING simulators, golf putting challenges and information on flying your pets interstate were all on the smorgasbord as more than 100 draftees and rookies descended on Etihad Stadium for the AFL Players' Association/AFL induction camp.

Monday marked the first of a two-day AFLPA-run camp where players learned about the services and support that is made available to them during their careers.

Former Fremantle champion and AFLPA president Matthew Pavlich welcomed the draftees to the venue, while they also got to hear from former North Melbourne and West Coast great Drew Petrie, who flew from Perth for the day, and recently retired star Saint Leigh Montagna. 

Ex-Carlton and North Melbourne player Mark Porter, now a financial advisor, spoke about how the players can manage their money and make the most of their superannuation. 

There were other booths scattered around the Victory Room in Etihad Stadium with a representative from La Trobe University providing the draftees with information about the courses available to them.

Players ranging from the status of Cameron Rayner, the No.1 pick in last year's NAB AFL Draft, to father-son draftee Jackson Edwards, the son of Crows great Tyson and the last player taken in this year's Rookie Draft, were on hand for the camp.

The contrast between the AFL's youngest player – Sydney's Tom McCartin – to mature-age Hawthorn rookie Dave Mirra, 26, a veteran of nine AFL drafts, illustrated the spread of ages and life experience.

A representative from the AFLPA's official charity Ladder was on hand to give players a rundown of the services they provide the homeless, the draftees had their 'head scans' for popular video game AFL Evolution and players also saw how their likenesses and image would be used for AFL licensing purposes.

There were television screens set up where players took turns to ask all the hard-hitting questions for AFLPA TV and they each got the chance to deliver the important message about stopping violence against women in the 'The Line' campaign.

'The Line' encourages healthy and respectful relationships by challenging and changing attitudes and behaviours that support violence.

The players also had some down time where they participated in a driving simulator challenge, complete with a steering wheel and a computer screen, and got to pit themselves against their peers in an increasingly competitive 'closest to the pin' golf putting challenge.

There were even stands set up to help players organise transporting their pets with them to their new bases interstate and another offering players almonds to keep their energy levels up.

AFLPA player development manager Brett Johnson said there had been a vast improvement in the range of resources made available to players over the last five years.

"The industry keeps evolving and certainly from a player development point of view it's getting a lot more sophisticated," Johnson said.

On day two of the camp, the players will be briefed by the AFL on the Illicit Drugs Policy, match-fixing, gambling and anti-doping.