Students have a ball with the Demons

By Ben Hope
MORE than 250 primary school students were put through their paces by the Melbourne Football Club on Wednesday as the AFL community camp came to the Cardinia Shire.
AFL Victoria development manager Damian Carroll said the community camp was a great day with students attending from Pakenham Consolidated, St Patrick’s and Columba Catholic Primary Schools.
“We invited grade one and two students from 13 schools and we were hoping a few more would attend, especially since all the players from Melbourne were there,” Mr Carroll said.
“The students rotated through six activities working on the different skills involved in football. It worked out well.”
The students were coached by the 2010 Melbourne team who demonstrated their skills at a tackling station, bumping station, handball target, goal kicking, marking skills and individual player skills.
Mr Carroll said that despite hot conditions there was no problem with the students getting to every station and the feedback from parents and teachers had been positive.
“The camps are something we try and do a couple of times a year when the AFL clubs can come out,” Carroll said.
“Unfortunately there are no more AFL visiting the Pakenham or Garfield area again this year, but we try to take the super clinics throughout Gippsland.”
The Pakenham Football Club also supported on the day, making sure the grounds were up to scratch and selling drinks.