AFL Chief Executive Officer Andrew Demetriou announced that ten new communities will host an AFL Camp in 2005.
Mr Demetriou said the AFL Community Camps not only kick-start the new season, but have become an important element of the game’s development program.
""Over the past two years the camps have been a highlight for the AFL, thanks to the fantastic support of our players and coaches.
""The camps provide players, umpires, coaches and administrators at the grassroots with a chance to learn from the game’s best. Public functions, featuring the travelling teams, will also give regional football communities an opportunity to fundraise,"" Mr Demetriou said.
Mr Demetriou encouraged those living in and around the selected towns and suburbs to be a part of the club visits.
During the AFL Community Camps in 2004;
- 95,000 people came in contact with players and coaches
- AFL players attended 308 primary schools - a 47% increase from 2003
- 59,603 primary school kids participated in AFL Auskick clinics – a 32% increase on 2003
- AFL players attended 74 secondary schools and met 14,850 secondary school kids an 85% increase on 2003
- 8470 children participated in 11 superclinics
- 49 hospitals & 4315 patients were visited by AFL footballers
- 3510 people attended Community Forums to learn from AFL coaches, umpires, trainers, administrators and players - 76% increase on 2003
- $63,600 was raised to assist local development at Official Functions - a 154% increase on 2003.
From February 1-4, the other AFL clubs will be travelling to:
Adelaide - Port Augusta
Brisbane - Lions Gold Coast
Carlton - Shepparton
Collingwood - Greater Western Sydney
Fremantle - The Pilbara
Geelong - Horsham
Hawthorn - Hobart
Kangaroos - Wagga Wagga
Melbourne - Cairns
Port Adelaide - Mt Gambier
Richmond - Mildura
St Kilda - Bairnsdale
Sydney - Wollongong
West Coast - Busselton
Western Bulldogs - Darwin
