Two Sydney Swans players visited Glen Innes last Wednesday as part of the AFL’s Community Camps program, which sees professional players and AFL development teams tour regional towns to promote the sport.
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Jackson Thurlow and Ryley Stoddart toured the northern areas of the AFL North West League, visiting Moree, Inverell and Glen Innes.
The newly formed Glen Innes Celts AFL Juniors assisted the Swans in a discussion and clinic at Glen Innes Public School.
Students were able to ask the players about their lives as AFL stars, with a few confusing the game with Rugby, and asking questions such as how many tries they had achieved, to the players’ amusement.
Accompanied by the Celts juniors, coaches and officials the group then made a brief stop-off at the Glen Innes High School swimming carnival, with many onlookers unsure as to who exactly the “guys in red and white” were.
Students here learned about the athletic ability required of AFL players, with the average running distance during a professional game being about 14kms.
In the 2018 season, a Melbourne star clocked 17.2kms.
Some players have been noted kicking the ball at over 100 metres distance during a game.
The Glen Innes Junior AFL Club is looking for players, male or female from age 12 to 17 as they have just commenced training for the season, and welcome primary school-aged children (5 to 11) to their Auskick program which begins in term two.
The club will host a free come and try gala day on Sunday, March 3 at 10am at King George Oval for any school-aged children interested in learning some skills and seeing how the game is played. Barbeque to follow at 12pm, with gold coin donation.
