Wodonga Saints will host four-time AFL premiership player Jordan Lewis next month.
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The former Hawthorn star, who signed with Melbourne in the off-season, will run training sessions with the Tallangatta and District outfit’s under 14s and 17s players and stay for a sportsman’s night on March 4.
Saints’ thirds coach Dale Skinner is yet to announce the venue as only registered Wodonga Saints players will be eligible for the sessions.
“We’ve got to pay for it, but it’s part of us trying to get some new players,” Skinner said.
“We’re trying to do a few different things that other clubs aren’t offering players to attract a few more thirds and under 14s kids to the club.”
Skinner made contact with a friend in Melbourne to explore the idea before coming to an agreement to bring Lewis to town.
“That night is also our major sponsors draw as well, so hopefully we can generate a bit of money as well, but the main thing is the training sessions,” he said.
“If there are kids out there who are not registered anywhere, please give us a call and we can talk about it.”
Skinner hopes Lewis will be able to pass on some of his experience about handling pressure situations to the younger groups.
“Not only is he a champion footballer, but, from all reports, he’s got a really good football brain,” he said.
“I’m hoping he’ll teach our guys some key points about playing footy and giving them a few pointers on things they can apply in pressure situations or some of the things he thinks are important in his footy.
“He’s a fairly versatile player and I think modern day players need to be versatile, so hopefully that is something he can get across to the kids to so they can play in multiple positions.
“It’s not an opportunity you get every day with a guy like Jordan who is still playing AFL.
“During the season, we also hope to have another two or three sessions with current or past AFL footballers, which is something no other clubs are offering.”
Skinner admitted attracting interest for the Saints’ junior teams this season has been challenging so far, but he’s confident they will have enough players to field sides in 2017.
“The under 14s and under 17s are training together at the moment and we’ve got some really talented kids in both those groups,” Skinner said.
“If we can top-up with another half a dozen to 10 more in the under 17s, it gives us the flexibility to allow the good kids to go up and play senior footy if they get the opportunity.
“If we get a few extra, the Saints in the under 17s will be super-competitive because the kids we have got there are really talented.”