Fremantle senior coach Ross Lyon has praised the character of Freo’s younger players who have embraced their trip to Geraldton as a part of the AFL Community Camp. 

Fremantle visited 18 schools in the area as well as hospitals and aged care facilities as a part of the two-day camp.

The players also held a number of football-related events including an Auskick Super Clinic for local children and a fundraiser for the Brigades Football Club.

Speaking at a breakfast function at Skeeta’s Café in Geraldton on Wednesday, Lyon said the camp illustrated how well the group was coming together. 

“We have 25 of our young players up here and there’s a sprinkle of experience in there, too,” Lyon said. 

“The feedback I’ve had from the community is that they’ve integrated really well. They’re warm and friendly, they’ve been giving and that’s really pleasing to hear.

“We’ve had a good cross representation in our group, we’ve got kids from the best private schools all the way through to kids from challenged backgrounds but they all have a common thread in their passion for footy. 

“They’re young men going through their growing pains and AFL football puts a spotlight on them but I get a lot of pleasure in hearing how well they’re doing and how much they’re enjoying being up here.”

When fielding a question from a local teacher, Lyon spoke about how the club places a priority on developing good people, not just good football players.

“We’re one of the few clubs with two player development managers and we’ve been one of only two clubs to have a full time clinical and sports psychologist over the past six or seven years,” Lyon said.

“We’ve invested heavily in this field and we really encourage them to study. I think we had 22 players in undergraduate courses last year and additionally, David Mundy just graduated in his marine science degree.”

Lyon added that it was important for players to have other passions in their life outside of football, highlighting a recent example with Connor Blakely’s hamstring injury.

“Up until Connor’s injury, he hadn’t missed a session and was at 100 per cent,” Lyon said.

“He lives just around the corner from me, so I made sure to go around and visit him, he was pretty flat but he’s got something else to hang his hat on and work on during the recovery process.

“He’s doing a double-degree and it's important to have some balance in your life when there are the mental pressures of being a young player and your identity is football.”