EARLIER this week, all 18 AFL clubs sent their first-year players to Etihad Stadium for the 11th AFLPA induction camp.

More than 125 players attended the two-day camp, including six of Melbourne’s eight new draftees: Tom Couch, James Magner, Jai Sheahan, Rory Taggert, Josh Tynan and Leigh Williams. Mitch Clark and James Sellar had previously been through the camp with the Brisbane Lions and Adelaide respectively.

The AFLPA’s aim through conducting the camp was to explain how it can offer guidance and life experience to its players. A range of subjects were discussed, such as respect towards women, gambling and studying/working options away from the game.

According to Melbourne player services manager Craig Lees, the strong message out of the camp to the players was to “make the most of your time in your environment”. 

Here’s what the Melbourne players thought of the camp …

James Magner

“We went over a lot of things. Jamie MacMillan from the Kangaroos spoke about some of the things you’ll come up against in your first year - the ups and downs. We also spoke about things outside like studying or doing a trade or working with the community. We also learned about the AFL’s charity called ‘Ladder’. The main thing they wanted to get through [to us] was that they are a union and they’re here to look after us. They’re there for support if you need it in any aspect. They’re there if you want to study or do a trade in any area. They’re the people to go to - that’s the main thing I got out of it. They’re there to help you when you finish your footy too.”

Leigh Williams

“It was pretty detailed. We went through the rules of gambling and violence against women, and things you don’t think about when you’re getting drafted. It was good to get an insight into the rules and the drug testing, so straight away when you were told what you can and can’t do, it was a bit of an [eye-opener] - even with proteins, you really need to keep an eye on things you eat.”

Tom Couch

“It was good to learn about where the AFLPA sits on certain matters. It was also a good opportunity to catch up with players from other clubs. Jackson Sherringham, who has been picked up by Geelong, is the same age as me. He went to the same school as me, so it was good catching up with him. There were also a few players from the VFL who you played against, and it was good to catch up with them.”

Rory Taggert

“It was a good insight, and they taught us a lot. They told us to plan ahead in case something happened suddenly and it all falls behind you. They want you to make sure you’ve got something to fall back on, in case footy doesn’t work out. They teach you about setbacks and how to deal with them. While you’re in footy, it’s good to have something to take your mind off it as well. And if footy’s not going well, it’s good to have something else going on, so you’re not on a downer. It was good to also catch up with guys who I’d played with last year. I got to see past Rebels. I lived with Tom Downie at St Pat’s College. I was boarding with him and he went to Greater Western Sydney, so it was good to see him. I also saw Sebastian Ross, who went to St Kilda, and Nick O’Brien and Lachie Dalgleish, who both went to Essendon. I caught up with Sebastian when I went home during the holidays, so it was good to see him again.”

Jai Sheahan

“It was a good few days and an insight into the things you have to do on and off the field. Things like not gambling on AFL games, how you treat women and act in public were all good eye-openers. It made me realise even more that I’m now at an AFL club, and it’s starting to sink in.”

Josh Tynan

“It was good to get an understanding of the regulations with the AFLPA - how they can help us and the studies we can do. They told us they’re there to help us, and what they can do for us. We also had awareness about drugs, so it was similar to what we learned in the TAC Cup.”