"IF I SEE your bread roll touch your soup, you're in big trouble!"

If the almost-50 young guns who assembled in Canberra for this week's AIS/AFL Academy thought the hardest thing they might come across was the beep test, they were sorely mistaken.

After a more relaxing day – which included a trip to the Australian War Memorial and saw the footballs virtually left untouched – a field trip off-campus concluded with a lesson over dinner from business and social etiquette specialist Anna McPherson.

As part of the Academy's aim to help prepare players for life as an AFL footballer, these young men from all parts of the country were educated as to what might be expected of them in various social settings – from meeting sponsors, to simply introducing friends in the correct manner or going on a date.

While it might sound elementary, this was top-line stuff. Chris Judd-type etiquette, designed to add some polish to tomorrow's stars of the game.

McPherson, who said the youngsters performed "very well" during the three-course drill, hoped the session would set them on their way for what might lie ahead in any future social setting.

"The idea is that they will have confidence when they go to a corporate function or to a special event," she said.

"They can concentrate on having a conversation and letting their personality come through because they know that their conduct is beyond reproach."

At the beginning of the night, players and support staff – including coaches Nathan Buckley, Michael Voss, Luke Darcy and Jason McCartney – were asked to set their own places.

After the bread rolls were brought to tables, correct devouring procedure was instructed.

Players quickly learned that using their hands to pull them apart was okay, but as for the eating itself … well, that was a whole other story.

Under the strict eye of our teacher, we didn't dare do as we might at home at Sunday lunch and scoff it down.

We were taught to break off bite-sized pieces one by one, butter these and then pop them in our mouth.

This way we could continue to engage in our delightful conversation with those on our right and left-hand sides – preferably in equal amounts – no matter how dull those guests at your table can be.

Anyone caught with a trace of soup on his bread – such as the youngster who had decided to make a little soup sandwich with his roll – was punished, however the brief singeing in front of the group not only provided amusement for his mates but also further bonding for a group of teens who only gather a few times a year.

While there was the odd song sung on the night, usually for someone eating before all the food had arrived at the table or a misplaced napkin, there were rewards too.

For these, chocolate bars were hurled through the air as correct answers were given in response to some tricky questions.

Voss ended up with a stack in front of him by the end of the night. Experience is a grand thing.

The youngsters, some of whom discussed their diets earlier in the day, would probably have been too wary of their skin folds to eat them anyhow.

Handshakes, how to hold a champagne flute, dress codes, table manners…it was all pretty much covered.

It was an interesting night. And eye-opening.

The modern-day footballer doesn't only have to worry about getting a kick these days; there might also be the odd bread roll lurking somewhere.