The annual Australia Post AFL Community Camp sees the entire Hawks squad split up into 11 groups and spread across the state of Tasmania. For three days of community activities between Saturday 22 February and Monday 24 February.
Below is a run down of day two.
Launceston
On a beautiful Sunday in Tasmania, the players based in Launceston had the opportunity to experience some of the amazing activities and scenery in Tasmania. Some went for a kayak around Oyster Bay, just outside Swansea, while others went fly fishing at Old Mac’s Farm and Fishery in Norwood.
The groups then made their way to different communities, where Brad Sewell, Alex Woodward, Shaun Burgoyne and Ben Ross took the scenic and beautiful drive to Triabunna (50 minutes outside Swansea), a small town of only approximately 300 people. The boys were met by players from the junior and senior teams of the Triabunna Football Club, who gathered at the local oval for a clinic and coaching session from the Hawks.
At Ulverstone, there were 500 people packed into the local footy ground waiting to see their Hawks heroes thanks to youthbeyondblue. Kids at Ulverstone had learned kicking skills from young Hawk Tim O’Brien, handballing with Will Langford and then had the difficult task of trying to break free of speedster, Cyril Rioli and kick for goal.
The players signed some autographs at the conclusion of the event before they were presented with medals from the community as a thank-you.
In the evening, all groups based in Launceston attended the Fitness Fun day at Royal Park, where a large number of keen Hawks fans joined players in a host of activities before getting photos and signatures from their favourite players.
Check out the video from the event in the player above.
Hobart
In Hobart, the players headed to a range of different events but kicked off their morning by getting to know some of the scenic areas of the state by flying over the Tasman Peninsula.
Tasmanian Air Adventures generously provided two sea planes and the Club arranged for a local Hawthorn supporting family who lost their home in the 2013 bush fires (and are still in the process of rebuilding) to join them. The group flew over the coastline that makes up the Tasman Peninsula and finished by taking in an aerial view of the historic Port Arthur ruins.
Another group headed to the peak of Mt Wellington with the Vertigo Mountain Biking team.
Matt Spangher, Paul Puopolo, Ben Stratton, Jed Anderson, James Sicily and Billy Hartung then headed off to New Norfolk (north of Hobart), for the BUPA Kid Fit Triathlon. The triathlon, which involved a 100m swim, 2km bike and 1km run saw approximately 300 participants receive a certificate from one of the players as they crossed the finish line. Spangher, Puopolo and Sicily signed autographs and took photos with the participants while Stratton, Anderson and Hartung presented a number of bonus prizes to the lucky participants.
Anderson, Puopolo, Sicily and Hartung then met up with Ryan Schoenmakers, Jordan Kelly, Kaiden Brand and Dallas Willsmore to host an all ages skills clinic with the Hobart City Football Club for 250 local kids. Anderson, who has taken a few brilliant marks already for the Hawks in his short career added an extra element to the clinic by teaching the kids how to take a speccy!
Grant Birchall, Taylor Duryea, Zac Webster and Dayle Garlett meanwhile, attended the official opening of the Bream Creek Pavilion, which was built using donations from the Club and the Red Cross following the Tasmanian bush fires last year. Students from Dunalley Primary School (a school that was completely burned in the 2013 fires) challenged the players to a tug of war...the players lost! Birchall, who is back in his home state helped cut the ribbon for the official opening before assisting with the most important part of the day, judging the bake off!
Watch a video from the event here.
