Players’ message

By Casey Neill
AFL players took over classrooms at Monbulk College last week to pass on the road safety message to the school’s Year 9 students.
Hawthorn’s Max Bailey, Rob Campbell, Brent Renouf and Matt Suckling and Collingwood players Brent Macaffer, Toby Thoolen, John McCarthy, Kevin Dyas, Tyson Goldsack, Brad Dick, Jackson Barham and Lachlan Keeffe captivated students at the school last Wednesday.
The workshop was part of Leading Teams Australia’s Athletes in Schools program in partnership with the TAC.
The organisation works with AFL clubs to develop positive team behaviour and leadership skills.
“I enjoy being able to have a bit of an influence on them,” Bailey said.
Campbell said the workshops were also an opportunity to harness public speaking skills.
“It’s a good opportunity to get involved with the kids. It’s good to try to get a message across,” he said.
“We get a buzz out of that.”
Martine Harkin, manager of the Athletes in Schools program, said the players showed students a DVD of short films produced by winners of the TAC’s MAFMAD (Make a Film, Make a Difference) competition.
The competition asked young filmmakers to produce short films with a road safety message.
The clips are used to initiate discussion about choices, consequences and assertive behaviour in relation to both driving and life in general.
AFL players from Geelong, North Melbourne and St Kilda are also involved with the program, as well as several basketball and netball players.