Essendon will travel to Bairnsdale and surrounding areas in East Gippsland on February 4- 6 as part of its 2008 AFL Community Camps.

For players like Jason Winderlich, who played for Gippsland Power, it will be a home coming while for others, like the new Western Australian recruits, it will be their first visit. 
 
The camps allow Australian football fans in every state and territory will be able to meet their heroes.
 
The AFL today announced the locations for all club camps to be conducted over the summer months between December and February.
 
Clubs will conduct training sessions, visit schools, nursing homes and hospitals, conduct NAB AFL Auskick clinics and community football forums for local coaches and administrators.

Essendon's full schedule will be placed on this website in coming weeks.
 
For the first time AFL clubs will also travel to South Africa to not only train at world-class facilities, but to see first hand the progress Australian football is making in communities new to the game. There are now 7800 players and over 115 primary school teams in South Africa.

The West Coast Eagles, Carlton, Fremantle and Collingwood will conduct week-long camps in South Africa over a three month period. Carlton and Fremantle will play an exhibition match at SuperSport Park in Pretoria on February 2.

In other changes, Sydney conducted a camp in Coffs Harbour last week, Adelaide will visit the Barossa Valley in May and both West Coast and Fremantle will conduct local camps while also travelling to South Africa.

AFL General Manager National and International Development, David Matthews, said the camps traditionally kick off the AFL season.

""The Telstra AFL Community Camps give communities the opportunity to see AFL coaches and players at the highest level preparing for the season ahead,"" Mr Matthews said.
 
""We are pleased to have the opportunity to extend the Community Camp program to South Africa where the game is making a difference on and off the field. Seeing elite players up close will certainly inspire the young South African players.""

The program is now in its sixth year and continues to grow.

Since the first camps in 2003:

1882 primary and secondary schools visited

421,668 students reached during school visits

40,103 children attended AFL Auskick Superclinics

15,357 people visited in hospitals and aged care facilities

13,770 people attended official functions in all areas

15,202 people attended community football forums

Official club functions raised over $264,000 for junior football/community
 
2008 Telstra AFL Community Camp locations:

Adelaide Barossa Valley May 5-6

Brisbane Lions Townsville Feb 6-9

Carlton South Africa Jan 21 - Feb 3

Collingwood South Africa Jan 20 - Feb 6

Essendon East Gippsland Feb 4- 6

Fremantle South Africa 27 Jan - 4 Feb

Albany Jan 30-31

Geelong Gold Coast Feb 6-9

Hawthorn Tasmania Feb 4-8

Kangaroos Northern Rivers/Gold Coast Feb 4- 7

Melbourne Canberra Feb 4- 8

Port Adelaide Whyalla Feb 5-7

Richmond Echuca Feb 5- 7

St Kilda Ballarat Feb 4- 6

Sydney Greater Sydney Dec / Feb

West Coast Eagles South Africa Dec 8-15

Narrogin Feb 5-6

Western Bulldogs Darwin Feb 12-15

The Sydney Swans will conduct day sessions throughout Sydney during December and February.

The Western Bulldogs’ camp will conclude on Friday, February 15, with their opening NAB Cup match at TIO Stadium in Darwin.