Blues have a ball

By Monique Ebrington
PLAYERS from Carlton Football Club took time out of pre-season training to visit Healesville, Marysville, Kinglake and Yarra Glen last week.
The entire 2010 Carlton playing list, as well as coach Brett Ratten and the coaching staff, visited the townships as part of the AFL’s Community Camp program.
Players dropped into schools, hospitals and aged-care facilities in the region, as part of the two-day visit.
On Wednesday 3 February Carlton players visited Yarra Glen, Chum Creek, Yering and Dixon’s Creek primary schools, to name a few.
Carlton team-members Brock McLean, Matthew Kreuzer and Brad Fisher played handball competitions with students and signed autographs at Healesville Primary School.
They gave the children advice on the sport and even managed to dodge the curly questions from students such as, “why can’t girls play your AFL?”
Local footballers, Carlton fans and curious residents were also able to meet the players and coaching staff at the Healesville Football Club oval.
Healesville Football Senior Club president Kym Estcourt said the visit from a professional AFL team was a great encouragement to the younger players.
“It was great,” he said.
“We had kids come up from Marysville, our local junior football club and a few under-18s kids.
“Even though it was so hot, it was a really good day. The guys from Carlton were just fantastic.”
Carlton fans, young and old, were undeterred by Wednesday’s sweltering heat and enjoyed participating in an informal training session with players.
The players were also more than happy to sign autographs and pose for photos.
Healesville’s Jeffery family was among residents eager to meet Carlton players at the Healesville Football Club oval.
Ian Jeffery said while not all members of his family were Carlton supporters, they all had a soft spot for the team. He said that players visited his daughter Kate, a keen Blues supporter, during a stint in hospital.
On Wednesday night the players and coaching staff took part in a fundraising dinner, at the Yarra Glen Racecourse, to raise money for Auskick programs in the region.
On the Thursday, players visited Monda Lodge Hostel, Healesville and District Hospital as well as Homewood Aged Care.
The regional community training sessions as well as school, nursing home and hospital visits have become a tradition of AFL clubs, in the lead up to the NAB Cup.