Matthew Lloyd returned to his old stamping ground yesterday to help the AFL launch its Grass Roots theme round. Lloyd kick started his career at Avondale Heights Football Club and he played 150 junior games there before going to the Western Jets as a 15-year-old.

""I love the Avondale Heights Football Club. I hold it up there with the Essendon Football Club. This place gave me my start and I am rapt to see that they are doing well and hopefully will be back in ‘A’ grade next year,"" Lloyd said.

Lloyd’s family still resides in the Avondale Heights area and the football club has a strong link to the Lloyd clan. ""My brother Simon has been the coach of the club and so has my dad. My brother Brad played here, so we have a great history with the club,"" he said.

In his junior days at Avondale Heights Football Club, Lloyd played at centre half forward and rotated as ruck rover. Lloyd said he has fond memories of his junior years playing at the club and it is important to remember where your career started.

""I left here with some unbelievable memories and met some great people around the club who I am still great mates with,"" he said. ""The Essendon District Football league has been fantastic for Joe Misiti, Dustin Fletcher and Mark Mercuri. We have all started somewhere and you never forget where you started.""

AFL Game Development Manager David Matthews said the aim of the Grass Roots theme round was to highlight the importance of local football clubs, wherever they may be, to the overall strength of Australia's only indigenous game.

""This celebration of community football is a great reminder that the elite level of our game would not exist without the thousands of community and local football clubs around the suburbs, regions and country areas of Australia,"" Matthews said.