An early morning weights session at Fremantle Oval on Monday kick started four days of activities for Fremantle’s players and coaches as they embarked on the club’s 2006 AFL Community Camp in the Peel region.

The group travelled by bus to their home base in Mandurah before breaking into smaller groups and heading out for school visits in Pinjarra, Harvey, Dwellingup, Boddington and Waroona.

Both primary and secondary students enthusiastically welcomed Fremantle’s players into their classrooms and had plenty of questions on hand for their football heroes.

At St Joseph’s Primary School in Pinjarra Fremantle Captain Peter Bell, Jeff Farmer, Matthew Carr, Paul Medhurst, Steven Dodd, Adam Campbell, Toby Stribling, James Walker, Luke McPharlin and new Assistant Coach Mark Harvey were greeted by some eager Fremantle fans at a special school assembly.

The ‘Wiz’ entertained the kids while teaching them about eating a healthy diet while Luke explained how he manages to find time to play football at the elite level, study at University and also play the guitar.

Meanwhile Paul Hasleby, Jarrad Schofield, Aaron Sandilands, Robbie Haddrill and Brett Peake formed part of a 13 strong group that ventured to Harvey and dropped in on several schools including the WA College of Agriculture before taking part in the Harvey Community Fair.

In Waroona several players including Byron Schammer, Des Headland and Justin Longmuir lent a hand at the Auskick registration day where kids signed up to take part in the great junior competition.

The exciting day continued as players headed for the community of Dalyellup where a NAB AFL Auskick Superclinic was conducted before the launch of a partnership between Fremantle and the local junior football club.

Back in Mandurah Fremantle President Rick Hart and General Manager of Sponsorship Darren Beazley addressed community and business leaders including many local football club Presidents in a forum highlighting sponsorship issues in football.

The successful day was rounded out with a Civic Reception where the team was welcomed to the Peel Region by Mayor Paddi Creevey.