Click here to watch Leigh Brown interview his teammates and Mansfield locals during the camp

Collingwood descended upon the Mansfield area on Monday and Tuesday this week to partake in the 2010 AFL Telstra Community Camp.

Similar to seasons past, every AFL club is scheduled to visit local areas throughout Australia with the purpose to give back to the community and help spread the game through clinics, schools visits and town tours.


This year the Magpies, led by hometown hero Josh Fraser, visited several areas which were affected by last year’s Black Saturday bushfires.


The Collingwood contingent, made up of players, coaches and administration, visited the local primary schools, hospitals and civic centres during their time in the area.


Mansfield was the club’s initial destination point with the players meeting many of the local businesses during a street walk through town.

Fraser was in his element during the visit reliving his junior footy heydays with his teammates.

"It’s great to come back home and be able to give something back to the community which helped raise me," Fraser told Collingwoodfc.com.au.


"I am able to make it out here a few times a year but to have the boys here and get involved with the kids is special.


"Also knowing the hardship these areas have faced over the last 12 months makes this trip extremely worthwhile."

The Magpie ruckman assisted in running several footy clinics on his home field with the neighbouring youths getting involved.


The highlight of the clinic was the Telstra Community Tent, which featured a video link-up with Geelong’s former premiership captain Tom Harley, who was stationed in Western Sydney working on the creation of the league’s 18th team.


Harley conversed with Luke Ball and Dale Thomas, discussing the difficulties in creating a team in Sydney while fielding questions from the students.


Dinner was hosted by the Mansfield Eagles in the clubrooms with a humorous Q & A period taking place with the coaching staff and players.

On Tuesday the squad visited Alexandra and Yea, conducting footy clinics with the local school kids who were delighted to meet their sporting heroes in only their first week of school.


The team will now commence its final preparations for its first match in the NAB Cup competition which is set to take place against St Kilda on Friday 19 February.