Stars of the future: GWS Giants forward Jeremy Cameron pauses to have a photo with young Blue Mountains Kangaroos players at Tom Hunter Park last week.
The greater west’s shining AFL stars met local stars of the future when three big names from the GWS Giants visited the Kangaroos last week.
Power forward Jeremy Cameron, defender Matthew Buntine and ruckman Tom Downie spent two hours with about 70 Blue Mountains Kangaroos players at Faulconbridge’s Tom Hunter Park last Thursday, August 2, after the club’s Auskick co-ordinator Roz Thomas won a competition through LifeBroker Insurance.
The Giants players spent the first half of the training session with children aged between four and seven who were taking part in Auskick, before moving on to game tactics and ball skills with players from the under 12, 14 and 16 age groups.
“The kids are loving it, it’s been a really good boost not just for the AusKick and younger boys but the older boys who got a deeper knowledge of the game that will be invaluable for that age group,” Roz said on the night.
“The Giants are here for a two-hour session, it’s not just a quick meet and greet but an in-depth training session.”
Cameron, Buntine and Downie spent time conducting a question and answer session with players, signed autographs and posed for photos during their visit, which came just two days ahead of GWS coach Kevin Sheedy’s record-breaking 1000th match as a player and coach at the Giants’ home ground, Skoda Stadium, on Saturday where the team recorded an impressive victory over Port Adelaide.
“There are a lot of Giants fans here and quite a few members of the club, which is really good,” Roz said.
“There will be lots of Blue Mountains Kangaroos players and their families at Skoda Stadium on Saturday.”