2012/2013 AFL Community Camps

The AFL have announced the locations for the 2012/2013 Australia Post AFL Community Camps, with Greater Western Sydney GIANTS to kick off the first camp in Canberra on December 4.

The Australia Post AFL Community Camps will see more than 800 AFL players take the game to regional and rural communities across Australia, as well as overseas when St Kilda Football Club visits Wellington, New Zealand in January 2013.

The AFL stars will carry out training sessions and visit schools, local football clubs, nursing homes and hospitals, to bring together individuals and communities, irrespective of backgrounds and beliefs, while promoting healthy lifestyles. 

GIANTS co-captain Phil Davis said the players were looking forward to the opportunity to meet local fans and members in Canberra in the lead up to the 2013 season.

“Canberra is the home of the GIANTS and it’s a great chance for all of us to get out in the community and engage with our supporters,” said Davis.

“It’s important for us to take the time to visit local schools and hospitals, do clinics with kids and give back to the people that make this game great and hopefully have some fun along the way.”

AFL National and International Development General Manager Andrew Dillon said the annual camps will see all 18 AFL clubs visiting fans of all ages, far and wide, in the lead up to the 2013 Toyota AFL Premiership Season.

“The Australia Post AFL Community Camps are a highlight of the year for many fans, in particular those who don’t have the opportunity to see their football idols regularly during the season.

“For the first time the camps will reach as far as New Zealand, when the Saints meet with local communities in Wellington from January 23, as part of the build up to the historic ANZAC Day clash against the Sydney Swans.”

Australia Post General Manager Community Relations Andrea Pearman said the Community Camps are an important part of Australia Post’s commitment to give local communities, particularly in regional and rural areas, access to experiences that they don’t usually have.

“Taking the big league to regional and rural Australia and providing them with opportunities to meet their favourite AFL players and clubs is a great way to create interaction and participation within local communities.”

2012/2013 Australia Post AFL Community Camp location & surrounds 

Adelaide	Naracoorte	Feb 18-19
Brisbane Lions	Toowoomba	Feb 15-16
Carlton	Bendigo	Feb 7-8
Collingwood	Healesville	Feb 18-19
Essendon	Myrtleford/Bright/Beechworth (linked to NAB Cup match in Wangaratta)	Feb 28 – March 1
Fremantle	Jurien Bay/Dongara	Feb 18-19
Geelong  Cats	Cobram/Barooga	Feb 5-6
Gold Coast  Suns	Townsville (Linked to NAB Cup match)	Feb 28- March 1
GWS	Canberra	Dec 4-5 (2012)
Hawthorn	Launceston/Hobart/Devonport	Feb 6-8
Melbourne	Cranbourne/Pakenham	Feb 12 & 15
North Melbourne	Ballarat	Feb 11-12
Port Adelaide	Kadina/Minlaton	Feb 18-19
Richmond	Alice Springs (Linked to All-Stars match)	Feb 6-7
St Kilda	Wellington (NZ)	Jan 23-27
Sydney  Swans	Sydney metropolitan regions   Regional NSW locations – Wollongong, Bowral, Newcastle, Armidale, Forster, Gosford, Port Macquarie & Coffs Harbour.	Feb 18-19
West Coast Eagles	Northam	Feb 7-8
Western Bulldogs	Hamilton	Feb 7-8