melbournefc.com.au editor Matt Burgan reflects on the second and final day of Melbourne’s community camp to Wonthaggi/Phillip Island
7 pm
THE REHAB group is up early for a pool session at Silverwater Resort, before the buffet breakfast is devoured. Soon the players, coaches and staff depart for Phillip Island Football Ground, where they will conduct another super clinic.
10 am
Coach Mark Neeld wanders through the Phillip Island Football Club rooms, taking in the names and pictures which adorn the walls. He, like the players and coaches, speak to locals and children, who have gathered at the ground. Again, the weather is a treat.
Neeld says the community camp has been worthwhile and a timely break before his side’s first hit-out this Friday - an intra-club clash at Casey Fields on Friday.
“It’s been really good. It’s a good break from training, and the players really like getting out,” he said.
“The players have run a super clinic at Phillip Island and in Wonthaggi the first day, so it’s been great.”
Ruckman and new leadership group member Mark Jamar says the community camp was refreshing for the players.
“We’re in Melbourne with training most of the time, so to be able to come out in community areas and get involved with the kids and the people is great,” he said.
“We get a lot out of it, and hopefully the community did too. I’m a country boy, and I feel like I’m at home in this area. Everyone has got a good attitude, and all the locals are friendly and helpful.
“There are a lot of good stories about playing footy in the old days and I’ve spoken to a few people. I went to the hospital on Monday, and I met a lot of lovely people.”
So did Jamar see any young guns in the making?
“I tried to show one little guy how to handball and he didn’t want to know about it,” he said.
“Then there was a little girl, who kept getting 10s through the handball target - she could not miss. So I thought I’d make it a bit trickier for her, by taking the target back a few metres and she still nailed it. She hit the 10s again.
“So one little girl, in particular, showed a lot of talent, which was great.”
12 pm
The super clinic concludes, before the Phillip Island Football Club hosts a BBQ lunch for the players and officials. It concludes a fantastic couple of days for Melbourne in the South Gippsland community.
1 pm
The bus departs Phillip Island and heads back to Melbourne.
Community manager Debbie Lee says the two-day camp was a successful one.
“It’s been great. We had two super clinics, with 300 kids from Phillip Island and about the same amount in Wonthaggi,” she says.
“We also did some coaching with community forums - coach the coach and train the trainers. The players then went and visited the bowls club, hospital and aged care facilities.
“It was great that our boys were able to get involved in the community.”
7 pm
THE REHAB group is up early for a pool session at Silverwater Resort, before the buffet breakfast is devoured. Soon the players, coaches and staff depart for Phillip Island Football Ground, where they will conduct another super clinic.
10 am
Coach Mark Neeld wanders through the Phillip Island Football Club rooms, taking in the names and pictures which adorn the walls. He, like the players and coaches, speak to locals and children, who have gathered at the ground. Again, the weather is a treat.
Neeld says the community camp has been worthwhile and a timely break before his side’s first hit-out this Friday - an intra-club clash at Casey Fields on Friday.
“It’s been really good. It’s a good break from training, and the players really like getting out,” he said.
“The players have run a super clinic at Phillip Island and in Wonthaggi the first day, so it’s been great.”
Ruckman and new leadership group member Mark Jamar says the community camp was refreshing for the players.
“We’re in Melbourne with training most of the time, so to be able to come out in community areas and get involved with the kids and the people is great,” he said.
“We get a lot out of it, and hopefully the community did too. I’m a country boy, and I feel like I’m at home in this area. Everyone has got a good attitude, and all the locals are friendly and helpful.
“There are a lot of good stories about playing footy in the old days and I’ve spoken to a few people. I went to the hospital on Monday, and I met a lot of lovely people.”
So did Jamar see any young guns in the making?
“I tried to show one little guy how to handball and he didn’t want to know about it,” he said.
“Then there was a little girl, who kept getting 10s through the handball target - she could not miss. So I thought I’d make it a bit trickier for her, by taking the target back a few metres and she still nailed it. She hit the 10s again.
“So one little girl, in particular, showed a lot of talent, which was great.”
12 pm
The super clinic concludes, before the Phillip Island Football Club hosts a BBQ lunch for the players and officials. It concludes a fantastic couple of days for Melbourne in the South Gippsland community.
1 pm
The bus departs Phillip Island and heads back to Melbourne.
Community manager Debbie Lee says the two-day camp was a successful one.
“It’s been great. We had two super clinics, with 300 kids from Phillip Island and about the same amount in Wonthaggi,” she says.
“We also did some coaching with community forums - coach the coach and train the trainers. The players then went and visited the bowls club, hospital and aged care facilities.
“It was great that our boys were able to get involved in the community.”
