FROM April 14 to 16, I did work experience with the Melbourne Football Club.

Over my three days at the club, we did several things, including a visit to training on Wednesday and assist with a kids’ football clinic on Tuesday.  

We also had a host of people talk to us about the club and what their roles are. They included Russell Robertson (the Demons great now working at the club), Jay Kennedy-Harris and Jack Viney (current players) and Andrew Nichol (former Bulldogs player now part of the football department).

We arrived for work experience on Monday at 10am.

The first thing we did was arrive at the Demon Shop, where we were given our t-shirts and tags for the three days.

We then had an introduction where we found out what we were going to do over the next few days. It was also an opportunity to get to know the other work experience people better.

Lunch was at the Hugh Trumble Café, which is located in the Members area (the food there is fantastic).

In the afternoon, we went into the AFL Elite Suite, where we helped organise showbags for the kids to receive at the clinic on Tuesday.

Later on, we walked over to AAMI Park, where we were lucky enough to watch Paul Roos’ press conference, which was a very good insight.

After the press conference, we had a talk from Jen Watt (general manager of marketing and communications), who works at the club. She talked to us about what the club does to help the new players accustom to AFL life and how they go through media training.

She then put us into groups, and we had to work through a media situation that an AFL player would go through. We then had to address it to the rest of the work experience group, as if it was a media situation. It was good fun.

We then headed back to the Demon Shop later in the afternoon for the end of our first day.   

On Tuesday, we had a later start, due to the kids’ clinic being held in the afternoon.

To start the day, we met at the Demon Shop again and went to the boardroom, where we had a talk from Russell Robertson. He spoke to us about what it was like for him growing up and how he became an AFL player. He also talked to us about the transition from being a teenager to an adult.

After his talk, we went to the Hugh Trumble Café again for lunch.

After lunch, we went over to Gosch’s Paddock to set up for the clinic. Once we set up, there were about 170 young, happy and excited children waiting to do some activities with their Melbourne heroes.

I was set up at the tackling station with Nathan Jones (club co-captain), Daniel Cross (fellow gun midfielder) and Tom Price (a fellow work experience mate).

The children really enjoyed the tackling bag and it was good to see lots of kids with the biggest smile on their faces.

Once the clinic had finished, we packed up and went back to the Demon Shop to finish day two.

On Wednesday, our last day, we once again met at the Demon Shop, before we walked over to Gosch’s Paddock to watch the boys train. It was good to watch and see how it happens. And while the standard might be greater, it’s not all that different to what happens at your local footy club.

After that, we were taken on a tour of AAMI Park, where we looked at all the Melbourne football administration offices. We also had a look in the weights room.

And it wasn’t just the Melbourne Demons players who were there – the Melbourne Storm players, who had a win on the Monday night, and the Melbourne Victory players, who were fresh off a win on Tuesday night, were also in the training area.

Later on, we went back to the MCG, where Russell Robertson took us into the change rooms and also where the players have their pre and post game meetings

But the highlight of the day was being able to walk up the race onto the mighty MCG. It was one of the best feelings in the world, walking onto the hallowed turf. Once you’re out there, it’s not much bigger than your local oval.

We then had our last Hugh Trumble Café lunch, before heading back over to AAMI Park.

There, we had some members of the club in charge of player recruitment talk to us about their jobs. We also picked an all-star AFL side.

Members of the fitness department then spoke to us about their role at the club and what it took to work in the AFL. We also had Brett Allison (the development coach) explain his role at the club.

And then Jack Viney, Jay Kennedy-Harris and Andrew Nichol came in and spoke to us about leadership and what it’s about.

Both Jay and Jack were very well spoken and were very helpful with some of their comments.

Once they were finished, we said goodbye to everyone in the work experience program.

All in all, this was one of the best experiences in my life and I would certainly recommend it to everyone thinking about it.