Wyndham Basketball Association’s all-abilities program had some special guests on Tuesday afternoon as community connections were fostered.
North Melbourne players attended the program as part of its AFL community camp which also included school visits and an Auskick clinic.
The Kangaroos already have a connection with the Wyndham Basketball Association through its Huddle program.
North ruck Tristan Xerri said days like this means not only something for the participants, but also the footballers themselves.
Xerri grew up in Melbourne’s western suburbs, having played his junior football with Caroline Springs.
“We get amongst the schools and the communities, it’s been really good,” he said.
“Obviously growing up in the western suburbs myself, if this ever happened when I was younger, I knew how exciting it was.
“It was a really good opportunity to give back and all the boys look forward to it.”
Xerri said it was special to see the club invested in the Wyndham-Werribee area and there was a good connection between the club and the community.
He said the Huddle does some good things in the Wyndham community.
“That is one of the perks of the North Melbourne footy club, we’ve had that going for several years now,” he said.
“It is so good to have that culture at the Huddle and the connection between sport and the community, they do such a great job.
“You can seriously, see the enjoyment.”
Paul Curtis is another North Melbourne player who grew up in Melbourne’s west having grown up in Melton.
He was among the group that took delight in participating in some wheelchair basketball at the visit on Tuesday.
“It’s just meeting the kids with so many different characters and people who don’t play footy and are giving it a go,” he said.
“It’s always good seeing those kids trying something different.
“It [wheelchair basketball] was actually really fun, trying something new.
“Basketball is not my strong suit and a young lady was showing me a few tricks. She was hitting every shot.”
Wyndham Basketball Association general manager Jason Kelly said it was an amazing opportunity and he couldn’t thank the club and the Huddle program enough.
“To be able to bring out an AFL team and it was nothing to do with basketball,” he said.
“It was all about community, it was about connection and it was about turning around and just showing people, hey, they’re actually real people.
“It had a basketball component to it, but what an amazing opportunity for these players that may never ever get to see an AFL player to be here at Eagle Stadium.”
Kelly said the connection with the Huddle program was massive for the association.
They currently have two work experience people through the Huddle program helping with their inclusion program.
“The extension of that is we’re going to connect again with the Huddle in 2026 in not just the inclusion program, but across our association.
“They might work in all abilities, wheelchair, or walking basketball. But we’re going to have a look and see how can we extend this into the domestic program, the junior clubs, or junior teams, and also our junior representatives program.”
