After a couple of kicks back and forth, the merging of groups had slowly begun. Well, someone had to break the ice after a somewhat uneasy standoff.
Outside the Potchefstroom prison a sign had welcomed the visitors: “A place of new beginnings”, it read.
For Fremantle coach Mark Harvey and his team, 2008 definitely brings that.
But Tuesday’s AFL Community Camp was not a day for reflecting on last year’s shortcomings.
Rather, it was a time for giving something back, and although it was 11 hours by air from home, it’s likely not one Freo player would have finished the day without at some point having a good hard think about just how lucky they were in life.
The prison visit – which included a tour through the interior of the jail – was just the second of four activities.
The day started with a trip to the Thakaneng Project, a shelter for boys who were living on the street as a result of poverty or abuse at home.
Here, more than a dozen young faces lit up at the arrival of these huge white men – who not only stuck around to chat and kick the footy with them but also came bearing the gift of a Fremantle cap.
Freo veteran Matthew Carr, himself a father of three, was taken aback by what he saw.
“It just makes you appreciate your own life and opportunities that you can give your kids,” he said.
“To be honest it’s a bit surreal actually, coming here and seeing it.
“It’s the first time I’ve ever been to a place like this, so while you hear about it when you’re in Australia, to see it first hand is quite unbelievable – to see the poverty that exists here and for a country I guess that’s supposedly progressive, it’s still got a long, long way to go.”
From the Thakaneng Project it was off to Potchefstroom Correctional Services, with players mixing with inmates on sporting fields before a look inside the prison walls.
After lunch came another highlight, as schools from around the Potchefstroom area gathered for a FootyWild clinic at Shaun Pollock Oval.
Whether they had played or even seen the game before, no-one could question the youngsters’ enthusiasm and willingness to learn.
Some children were wearing their school uniforms – complete with black school shoes – but were so eager to take part in the drills they showed little regard for them as they grabbed tackle bags and rolled around on the field.
Some tried to perfect a drop punt, some took part in matches while others simply gazed – up – at Freo ruckman Aaron Sandilands.
After the 90-minute clinic, players and officials said their goodbyes and headed off for a walking tour of a nearby shanty town.
They passed dozens of small children, all seemingly happy despite their poverty.
The purple contingent would stop every few houses for photo opportunities.
Mark Harvey and his men should keep those pictures – all those pictures from Tuesday in fact – stored away and, if things do get bad this season down at Freo, maybe dig them out for a look.
Because Tuesday was a reminder – or perhaps eye-opener would be a better term – that no matter how dire things can seem at times, others somewhere else are more likely doing it far tougher.
