The Telstra AFL Community Camp is part of a national program which has seen all 16 AFL Clubs in regional and remote communities across Australia, giving locals an opportunity to get close to AFL at the highest level.
This is the seventh year that the AFL Community Camp concept has reached far and wide across Australia. In the past the Adelaide Crows have been to Mt Gambier, the Riverland, Fleurieu Peninsula, Port Lincoln, Barossa Valley and Yorke Peninsula.
The Adelaide Crows’ Community Camp will involve free activities including a super clinic, school visits which will reach more than 1200 local children, community visits to the local hospitals, aged care facilities and remand centres, plus a Community Footy Forum for local coaches, players and medical trainers.
The Adelaide Football Club Junior Development team will be presenting the Foodland "Crows in Schools" program in the days prior, visiting the schools in the region from February 1-3, with their special guest Claude the Crow.
The camp officially starts on Thursday February 4 from 12.30pm with a number of school and community visits throughout the region. Please see the final page of this release for these details.
In the afternoon at the Ramblers Football Club the Adelaide Crows will hold a free super clinic from 4.30-5.30pm where children in the region will have the opportunity to meet the team, learn the basic skills of AFL and have time to collect autographs or simply chat to their heroes. Children aged 5-15 years are welcome to attend.
The CROWmania van will be set up from 4pm at the clinic fully stocked with plenty of the new 2010 Reebok apparel including the new away guernsey which will be offered at 10% off for the night.
A highlight of the camp will be the opportunity of a lifetime given to the River Murray Football League Pathway program U15 and U17 squads. A group of 100 young footballers from the region will be put through their paces by the Adelaide Crows coaches straight after the super clinic at Ramblers Football Club.
Young injured Crow Brodie Martin is a product of the pathway program. From Meningie, Martin progressed through the pathway program and then on to the Sturt Football Club before being picked up as a rookie by the Adelaide Crows. Last year he was promoted to the senior list and made his AFL debut.
Following the clinic there will be a family friendly barbecue at the Murray Bridge Race course where the players will again be available after dinner. Contact Mick O’Hara on 0428 751 028 if you have any questions about the barbecue.
On Thursday evening from 7.30pm selected Adelaide Crows personnel will present the Adelaide Crows Football Forum again at the Murray Bridge Race Course in the Committee Room. Crows player Scott Stevens will lead the players forum while head trainer Vinnie Del Bonno will head up the medical forum. A coaches forum will be held at Ramblers Football Club earlier in the day.
As the Team for all South Australians, Crows captain Simon Goodwin says the players thoroughly enjoy the annual AFL community camp which gives them the opportunity to mingle with their fans in regional areas.
"It is a fantastic concept because it allows us to give back to our regional supporters, who make up 18% of our membership, and who support us so passionately," Goodwin said.
"We enjoy the time away from AAMI Stadium where we can soak up the grass roots footy atmosphere.
"Ten players from our squad grew up in regional SA so they know especially, how important it is for AFL players to spend time in the community, particularly with our young supporters. I know Tyson Edwards is really looking forward to returning to his old primary school."
Where you can see the Crows:
Thursday February 4
12.30-3.30pm: School and community visits
12.30pm: Mypolonga PS, Mannum Community College, Fraser Park PS
1.30pm: St Josephs, Murray Bridge South PS, Unity College Junior School, Resthaven Nursing Home, Karoonda Area School (Tyson Edwards to visit his old school), Murray Bridge Soldiers Memorial Hospital
1.45pm: Meningie Area School (Brodie Martin to visit his old school)
2pm: Coomandook Area School
4.30pm-5.30pm: Super clinic - Ramblers Football Club
5.30-6pm: Murray Football League U15 and U17 Pathway Program training session with AFC coaches (Ramblers Football Club)
6pm-7.30pm: Family Friendly Barbecue (Murray Bridge Race Course)
7.45pm: Community Footy Forums (Murray Bridge Race Course)
Friday February 5
From 10am-12.45pm: various school and community visits
10am: Callington PS, Tailem Bend PS, Jervois PS,
10.30am: Lerwin Nursing Home, Mobilong Prison, Kalparrin Community Incorporated
10.45am: Palmer PS
11am: Geranium PS
11.30am: Murray Bridge PS, Murray Bridge Junior PS
