HASTINGS, VIC — More than 200 young footy enthusiasts gathered at Hastings Football Club this afternoon for a special AFL community clinic, a joint initiative led by the St Kilda Football Club, AFL Victoria, Hastings Police, Western Port Neighbourhood Watch, the Rotary Club of Hastings, and Hastings Football Club.
The event, designed to encourage youth participation in football, saw an overwhelming response from the community, with a strong presence from local police and AFL players and representatives.
Speaking with STPL News, Callum Wilkie, St Kilda Vice Captain and Key Defender, expressed immense pride in his club and their ongoing work with local communities.
“It’s awesome to have the opportunity to get down the Peninsula and get the community involved.”
“At the Saints, we’re really proud to represent the community all the way from Port Melbourne to Portsea, so it’s been great to get out and about.”
Warringine Ward Councillor Michael Stephens highlighted the success of the initiative, noting the significant growth in participation since planning discussions began.
“Over the last month, we’ve been working with the Hastings Police, who have been organising this event. So thanks a lot to the Hastings Police Force and the St Kilda footy team for coming down,”
Cr Stephens said.
“The idea is to encourage more young kids to get involved with footy in Hastings. And judging by the turnout today, it’s been highly successful. I think at our last meeting about a week ago, the police were saying there was only going to be about six kids here and not that many footy players, but the whole team’s turned up and I can count at least a dozen police here. Apparently, there’s 200 kids booked in for today’s event, and it’s wonderful to see so much activity down at Hastings Footy Club.”
Acting Sergeant Lachy Gray from Hastings Police echoed the importance of the initiative in fostering local partnerships and making sports more accessible to families.
“Hastings Police are part of a joint initiative with Hastings Junior Footy Club, Mornington Venture Junior Football League, St Kilda Football Club, and AFL Victoria. We’re here hosting an AFL community footy camp and family day,”
“This day is aimed at collaborating all partners together in getting kids into sport. We also have the Rotary Club of Hastings Western Port, who have teamed up to assist families in our community with discounted registration costs for those wishing to join Hastings Junior Football Club. We’re excited to work with all the local sporting entities in our area and build those partnerships.”
Acting Sgt Gray said.
Beek Beek Ward Councillor Kate Roper highlighted the challenges facing the Hastings Junior Footy Club, particularly in attracting and retaining players.
“The Hastings Junior Footy Club has had a difficult time finding and keeping players due to having lesser facilities compared to other clubs. Many emerging players move to more prominent teams, which makes it even harder for the club to grow,”
Cr Roper explained.
To help address financial barriers, the Rotary Club of Hastings is contributing $50 towards the $95 club membership fee, making it more affordable for local families to get their children involved in the sport.
Throughout the day, participants engaged in a range of playing stations, with notable Premier League AFL players from the St Kilda Football Club actively interacting with the community, sharing their passion for Aussie Rules football, and providing valuable coaching tips.
The success of the clinic has set the stage for future collaborations between community organisations, local government, and sporting bodies, ensuring more opportunities for young people in Hastings to engage in AFL and community sport.
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