From guide dogs to wineries and a few hundred school children in between, day two of Hawthorn’s Australia Post AFL Community Camp in Launceston had it all.

After an early breakfast and coffees all round, the two Launceston-based groups hit the road for what was to be a huge day with the local community. Launceston A headed out to St Leonards Primary School to help the Grade 6 students run a series of sports activities for the younger children at the school. Shane Savage proved a natural with the kids, teaching students how to handball and offering plenty of encouragement. Sam Mitchell took on more of a mentoring role at his ‘Ask Sam’ station, answering all sorts of questions about his days at primary school, why he loves football and how hard he trains at the Club. Mitchell left his groups with one important thing to keep in mind – cherish the friendships you make through sport.

The undoubted highlight for the group on day two was a visit to Tasmania’s Royal Guide Dogs, where Luke Breust, Jack Gunston, Savage and Matt Suckling were blindfolded and walked down the footpath of a busy Launceston street by one of the more experienced guide dogs. Gunston admitted it felt strange putting his trust into an animal.

“It was a pretty awesome experience,” he said.

“It gives me a great appreciation of what they (blind) people have to go through day in, day out.”

Breust was amazed at how intelligent the dogs were.

“It was interesting hearing about the training they go through to prepare a dog to be a guide dog,” Breust said.

“They’re great animals and give people who are blind or partially blind a chance to live a normal life – to go to the supermarket, or just go down the street.”

Jarryd Roughead and Ryan Schoenmakers had a more relaxing afternoon, enjoying a gourmet lunch at Tassie’s Pipers Brook vineyard. The pair were taken on a tour of the estate and educated about the intricate wine making process by Estate Manager Dion, who then hosted the players and six other hotel and restaurant owners for lunch downstairs in the cellar.

Group B took to the local primary schools on day two, mentoring students about the importance of education and the pathways they took to get to where they are today. Paul Puopolo was a standout for students, telling of how he starting working full-time in the construction industry after missing out on being drafted, only to be picked up as a mature age recruit four years later.

The next stop for Group B was one Xavier Ellis would rather forget. The players visited Whitelion, a program offering services to disadvantaged youths to help them build positive lives,  where they played X-Box and air-hockey with the local teenagers. Ellis was challenged to a 400 metre hurdle race on the X-Box by one of the young men, only to be convincingly beaten and ridiculed by his teammates. Ellis still maintains he wasn’t badly beaten.

Ellis wasn’t the only player upstaged on day two, Shane Savage and Mitch Hallahan took on some primary school students in handball at the Cancer Council in Launceston and were given a run for their money.

The Cancer Council showed off their brand new Cancer Support Centre, a place where those affected by cancer can relax and share special moments with their family and friends. Breust set up a popular handball station at the Centre, but spent more time jumping fences to collect lost footballs.

“A couple of the girls were actually really good, they scored a couple of tens (out of ten), so it was lots of fun,” Breust said.

After quick visits to Launceston Toyota and Australia Post, both groups came together to host a Super Clinic at Royal Park with Active Tasmania. Hundreds of children turned up to take part in the fun and games, competing against the players in various activities. The clinic was also a chance for all the Hawks supporters to get their favourite player’s signature on the new 2013 Team photo.