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Bulldogs Future Stars Show Their Skills |
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Thursday, 26 July 2007 |
South Fremantle Football Club’s Future Stars Training Camp held on July 19 attracted the biggest turnout the club’s development officer Jason Burton had seen.
More than 380 children trained with South Fremantle stars at Fremantle Oval despite squally conditions.
Dockers player Ryan Murphy said the weather didn’t bother the children because they were just so excited to be there. “It’s always great to see kids involved in footy,” he said. Growing up in Traralgon in country Victoria, Murphy said he benefited greatly when players came to his school so he enjoyed doing the same for children now. “They seem to get a real kick out of having a league player here,” he said.
The training camps are also part of the 16s squad development program. Burton said: “As the 16s get older it provides them with good personal development and helps their leadership skills.”
16s player Mathew Jones, who recently returned from a successful Melbourne trip with the Warriors, said he enjoyed training the children at the clinics and also attended many when he was younger. “It’s a great opportunity to give back to the club, especially to say thank you for the trip to Melbourne,” he said.
Mason Craigie, 5, was delighted to get Murphy’s autograph. His mother, Lisa, said: “Three hours just isn’t enough for him because he loves it.”
Burton said the camps were important because they gave children the rare opportunity to be coached by the stars. “There are definitely some future players out there; that’s an important reason we run the training camps,” he said. “Over half the current stars attended holiday clinics when they were young. “They’re so popular. We had parents ringing all morning to confirm it was still on despite the rain.”
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