Pride of big Cats head out to the Plains

THE Geelong Football Club’s annual Country Day has seen players from both the men’s and women’s teams head out into Golden Plains Shire.

Held on Friday, 14 February, the day saw players attend Teesdale, Bannockburn, Lethbridge, Anakie Inverleigh and Meredith primary schools.

The visits also included St Mary MacKillop Primary School in Bannockburn and Lethbridge Junior Football Club as well as Inverleigh and Bannockburn Football Netball clubs.

Mid-fielder Cameron Guthrae was at Meredith Primary School and said the day meant something to the club, the players and the kids.

“It’s really good to immerse yourself in the Geelong community and the wider community,” he said. “The kids get a lot out of us being here. I remember when the AFL players used to come to my school or my footy club, I used to get so much out of it.”

Geelong’s Country Day is now in its 20th year and Guthrae has been taking part for 10 of them.

While there were many Cat’s jumpers at Meredith Primary, the club’s visit wasn’t about creating young fans.

“I think it translates as support for the club but that’s not really why we do it,” he said. “The main reason we’re out here is to put a smile on kids’ faces.

“It’s great to be involved in something like this and hopefully we can continue that for the next 20 years. It’s a big day for us but we really enjoy it as players.”

At Meredith the whole school took part in footy skills workshops, with the grade 6 pupils setting up and running the stations.

School captain and grade 6 student Lilly was part of the team that set up the activity stations for the skills workshop.

As a Cat’s fan herself, she was rapt the players were in town.

“It’s amazing, it’s really good,” she said. “It’s a chance for everyone to ask questions and get signatures. It’s just a really good opportunity.

“Everyone here pretty much barracks for Geelong, we’re all very excited.”

Grade 5/6 teacher Fairlie Pritchard said the responsibility placed on the older students in setting up the activities was a good test for them.

“Being so early in the year I tried to stay out of this one as much as I could and said, ‘It’s up to you to show you can do this because you are the leaders of school’.

“They got together as a group at recess and came down and sorted out who was doing what and they’ve worked really well together, which is a good sign for the rest of the year.”

Ms Pritchard said that having the players visit was special for the school community and many ways.

“It’s great recognition to know people realise we’re out here,” she said. “Sometimes you feel a bit like you’re the forgotten school being halfway between Geelong and Ballarat.

“But the footy club have always made sure we’ve been included. The kids love it, we love it, we’ve always had a good range of players come and they always comment on how good our kids are.”