Melbourne, Richmond and North Melbourne set to lift spirits of district flood-affected communities

By Zac Standish

Feb 2, 2023

Lifting spirits: North Melbourne and Mooroopna product Jy Simpkin will be one of three AFL clubs making the trip to the Goulburn Valley in the next fortnight. Photo by Cath Grey

Flood-affected sporting associations from across the region will be given the opportunity of a lifetime this month as three AFL clubs make the trip to the Goulburn Valley to run a host of different clinics and information sessions.

Beginning next week, Melbourne will head to the southern parts of the region and hold a community camp at Seymour which will include an Auskick Footy 4 Fun clinic and coaches forum at Chittick Park on Monday, February 6.

Richmond will be making its way up the Hume Hwy a week later, beginning by hosting the opening night of the three-week Junior X relaunch at 5pm-7pm at Mooroopna Recreation Reserve.

The Tigers will also be at Echuca earlier that day, hosting an Auskick Footy 4 Fun clinic at Echuca South Recreation Reserve.

While North Melbourne will make its way to Rochester, a town it has a strong connection with through life member Shaun Atley, and hold its community camp on Monday, February 13.

AFL Goulburn Murray general manager Shaun Connell said it was fantastic to see elite sporting organisations banding together and assisting district communities.

“One of the things we have been talking about as a commission is how we can support the communities around flood recovery,” Connell said.

“So you’ll note that all of the AFL club visits are centred around the communities that have been impacted by the floods.

“There will be activations around schools and Auskick and some community centres which will focus around lifting the spirits of some of those flood-affected people.”

As for what it means for these flood-affected communities, new Rochester Football Netball Club president Justin Cleary said the benefits of having North Melbourne in town would be endless.

“It is part of the AFL regional camp program and the exciting thing for us is we are going to have access to Alastair Clarkson for our senior playing group,’’ Cleary said.

“He is going to take a session, so that is exciting. I think the players are all looking forward to that. North Melbourne is in a rebuild and Rochester is in a rebuild, so if there is any symmetry, there it is.’’

For those wanting to get involved in any of the AFL club hosted Auskick Footy 4 Fun clinics, you can register at the following link: https://www.playhq.com/afl/register/b6e6dd?fbclid=IwAR2FjHAPB522-b_RfclyzuCZmG9gBYjhsO2o21stgavCk8ERhQNeV9ipSGs