Some special visitors dropped into training today, in the lead-up to this weekend’s Indigenous Round clash with Hawthorn.

Boxer Anthony Mundine was the most notable visitor at the Victoria Park session, where he addressed the players and was presented with a 150th birthday guernsey.

More remarkable, however, was the appearance of a group of 11 teenage students from the Djarindjin Lombadina Catholic School in remote Western Australia, 200km north of Broome.

These children have travelled thousands of kilometres via Sydney and Canberra, and will fulfil their dreams when they watch the Demons play at the MCG on Sunday.

As is the case in many indigenous communities, truancy is a major problem at the Djarindjin Lombadina Catholic School. 

Avid MELBOURNEfc supporter David Ponsford (a descendant of former Australian cricketer Bill Ponsford, after whom the MCG’s City End grandstand is named) has led the trip to Melbourne to reward the group for not missing classes.

MELBOURNEfc’s indigenous quartet – Aaron Davey, Matthew Whelan, Austin Wonaeamirri and Isaac Weetra – were on hand to congratulate the group for being chosen to take part in the trip.

Along with Mundine, they had an important message for the children: “no shame”, a slogan that encourages indigenous kids to reach for the stars, just as our team’s Aboriginal stars have done.