The Dons returned to the Bendigo and Castlemaine regions this week for their annual AFL Community Camp.

Arriving on Wednesday 10 December, we delivered our Bomber Kids early learning program to Kinders and Preschools on the way up to Bendigo. The camp began with a cultural session delivered by local Indigenous group Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation (DJAARA). The team immersed themselves in an Aboriginal dance session and a Welcome to Country before heading across the road for the Auskick Superkick clinic.

One hundred future football superstars gathered at the Tom Flood Sports Centre, where they enjoyed a clinic run by AFL Vic and Essendon players, followed by a signing session for the local Bomber Army.

To close out day one, assistant coach and former player Dean Solomon travelled up to deliver a coaching workshop for 20 of the regions developing coaches. The evening began with a Q&A session, followed by a practical scenario walkthroughs where Dean challenged the coaches to problem solve game day scenarios during the intensive coaching session.

School visits were next on the agenda, with players splitting into small groups. We visited 23 schools, seeing over 1000 children across the Bendigo and Castlemaine regions.

This year’s focus on Bendigo and Castlemaine was especially meaningful for Jye Caldwell and Archer Day-Wicks. Caldwell played his junior football with the Golden Square Football Club in Bendigo before progressing to the Bendigo Pioneers in the TAC Cup, while Day-Wicks played school football for Catherine McAuley College, and also represented the Bendigo Pioneers in the Talent League.

The Dons held Q&A sessions with students, sharing their journeys to becoming professional footballers and offering advice to those hoping to pursue sporting careers.

Students also had the chance to enjoy a kick with the players, an experience that proved memorable for both the team and the kids.

On Thursday morning, a group of players also visited Bendigo & District Aboriginal Co-operative (BDAC)’s Djimbaya Kindergarten. “Djimbaya,” from the language of the Dja Dja Wurrung, means “to teach.” The players helped deliver the club’s early-learning program, Bomber Kids, bringing a morning full of movement, play, and big smiles.

The trip highlighted the importance of connecting with our fans in country Victoria, by ensuring football remains accessible to people far and wide.

Reflecting on the number of Dons who come from rural areas such as Xavier Duursma from Gippsland, Harry Jones from the Macedon Ranges, Zach Merrett and Rhys Unwin from Cobden, Sam Durham from Seymour, Ben McKay from Warragul and Zach Reid from Leongatha, the visit served as a reminder of the crucial role that junior country football pathways play in developing elite talent and why returning to these communities matters.