Josh Sinn poses with a young fan on Port Adelaide's 2023 AFL Community Camp in Whyalla. Image: Ruby McHaffie.

A group of Port Adelaide players and coaches, including 400-game AFL player Shaun Burgoyne and 2022 AFLW club best and fairest Hannah Ewings, accompanied the Power Community Limited (PCL) team to deliver the 2023 AFL Community Camp program to hundreds of Whyalla locals across two days.

The Auskick Super Clinic kicked off the 2023 Camp in style, with over one hundred up and coming footballers hitting the oval for their chance to take part in a series of drills with their sporting heroes. A signing and photo session rounded out the clinic, with fans taking the rare opportunity to spend time with the professionals – including Port Adelaide mascot, Thunda.

Shaun Burgoyne and Thunda interact with youngsters at Port Adelaide's 2023 AFL Community Camp. Image: Ruby McHaffie.

Later that evening, Port Adelaide welcomed over one hundred and fifty Whyalla locals to the Westlands Hotel for the Community Dinner – an event designed to raise important funds for the Peninsula’s football league.

The evening included exclusive player interviews, giving fans the opportunity to hear from their football idols firsthand, and a silent auction where a series of priceless Port Adelaide memorabilia and experiences were auctioned off, with all money raised donated back to protect the future of local young footballers.

Hannah Ewings, Trent Dumont, Tom Scully and General Manager of Power Community Limited, Jake Battifuoco speak at the Community Dinner. Image: Ruby McHaffie.

The final day of the camp saw both the players and PCL team hit the road to deliver the Community Youth, Santos Aboriginal Power Cup and Respectful Relationships programs to hundreds of young people across eight schools in the region, and a visit to the GFG steelworks.

One of the schools taking part in the Respectful Relationships program was Whyalla Secondary College – a school who have recently experienced a spike in violent behaviours in the classroom.

The Respectful Relationships program encompasses two core curriculums, Power To End Violence Against Women (PTEVAW) and Empowered, with each program targeted at both male and female students respectively working to combat violence through a whole of school education approach.

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Port Adelaide takes 2023 AFL Community Camp to Whyalla | PTV

Port Adelaide players and staff travelled to Whyalla to deliver the 2023 AFL Community Camp program to hundreds of locals across two days.

Magpies Captain and Community Program Coordinator, Cam Sutcliffe, was accompanied by Hugh Jackson and Sam Hayes to deliver the Power To End Violence Against Women program to Year 10 male students at Whyalla Secondary College, while their female classmates took part in the Empowered program in what is a critical time in the school's journey to eliminate violent behaviour.

Each program has a core focus on understanding what constitutes violent behaviour, how to prevent violence, and provide students with education tools to better determine a healthy relationship.

While various teams hit the schools to educate on healthy lifestyles and relationships, AFL legends Shaun Burgoyne and Hannah Ewings visited the GFG steelworks to learn about their incredible Pipeline Program.

Draftee Tom Scully signs autographs for young fans in Whyalla. Image: Ruby McHaffie.

The employment program exclusive to GFG, which has seen 101 apprentices, 32 vacation students, 60 graduates, and 24 trainees relocate to regional South Australia for employment since 2020, has created an influx of new people to the town and business – fostering and creating career opportunities in South Australia.

General Manager of Power Community Limited, Jake Battifuoco was delighted to see the Community Camp return to Whyalla.

“We were thrilled to return to Whyalla for the second time to deliver our 2023 Community Camp. The Eyre Peninsula locals are always welcoming, and we love bringing both the AFL Community Camp and the PCL programs here” Mr. Battifuoco said.

“Seeing over one hundred junior footballers at the Auskick Clinic, generating thousands of dollars to support the local footy league, and visiting hundreds of young people across a range of age demographics was incredibly rewarding for the whole team – and we couldn’t have done it without the support of club major sponsor GFG, and the AFL.

“PCL’s Community Youth, Santos Aboriginal Power Cup and Respectful Relationships programs have welcomed outstanding impact results in 2022, and the statistics indicate the curriculum and delivery methods are genuinely having a positive effect – and we hope that we’ve made an impression on the young people here in Whyalla.

“We’d like to thank the entire Whyalla community, and the Council for helping and supporting to coordinate this camp along with the ongoing support of our program partners”.