Former Carlton player Ben Robertson and Eumemmering Secondary College director of coaching Ben McGee with students involved in the school’s Australian Rules football course.By Glen Atwell
MOST students would only dream of playing football as a VCE subject.
But for a number of students at the Eumemmerring Secondary College, Hallam Campus, playing football has become an exciting form of study.
The new Vocational Education and Training (VET) program called Australian Rules, kicked into action last year at the Frawley Road school, run in conjunction with TAC Cup side Dandenong Stingrays.
Teacher Ben McGee said the program prepared students for work in the sport and recreation field.
“With competencies including occupational health and safety (OH and S) and communication in the workplace, the students finish with a wealth of knowledge to secure a job in the industry,” he said.
McGee said the course offered students a five-day timetable.
“Wednesday is the practical day where students have the chance to get on the football field and put the theory into practice,” he said.
Stingrays general manager Darren Flanigan said the original concept was born at Box Hill Secondary College almost 10 years ago.
“It took a little while but it worked and (Kangaroos player) Jess Sinclair was the first AFL player to be drafted through the system and there’s been a number of players to follow,” he said.
“It exposes them (the students) to elite sport and gives them a good grounding in both the practical and physical side of it.
“It gives kids an opportunity to stay at school,” Flanigan said.
But the program is also aiming to help the Stingrays scout talented footballers at Eumemmerring Secondary College.
McGee said year 10 students from the Eumemmerring Secondary College junior campuses at Endeavour Hills, Gleneagles and Fountain Gate had also been invited to participate in the program on Wednesdays.
“We’ve got over 50 kids playing football on Wednesdays all with the chance to make it to a Stingrays squad,” he said.
