GWS Giants forward Zach Sproule believes giving back to regional areas will only help grow the game more across the state.
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Sproule and two other members of the Giants' AFL squad virtually visited Dubbo's St Pius X Primary School on Tuesday as part of the club's Community Camp.
COVID restrictions made travel from the squad's base too difficult this year but Albury-born Sproule said the chance to speak to students in regional areas was beneficial.
"I think it's extremely vital to grow the game," he said.
"We try to do it massively in regional NSW and western Sydney for the growth of the AFL it's better for the game and obviously now being the 10th year of the club we want to drive that compared to all the other 17 clubs.
"We want to be a club that drives younger people to play the game and you want kids to start at an early age."
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Versatile forward Sproule praised the GWS Giants academy which has allowed talented Central West players be involved in the pathways system and have better access to high level coaching.
"The Giants academy was massive for me and my mate, getting me ready for what's to come and for when things start to get really serious at sort of 18 years old," he said.
"The academy teaches you a lot of things on and off the field, so the more people that get involved the better it is for the game and for the wider community so I think it's awesome."
Hailing from the country himself, Sproule wished he had some of the opportunities that are available to school-aged children now.
"I remember back in the day we didn't have as much of these things as what I would've liked to but now we've really upped the ante in that space and I love doing it because I know for a fact when I was younger, you jump online or have players come to your school or a clinic something like that would've been awesome," he said.
"It's something we didn't have a lot of when I was younger but now especially in these regional areas and Western Sydney it's a great way to grow the game and a great way to get kids involved and hoping to pursue an AFL career because it's an awesome profession.
"I actually love it, I think there is a lot of kids who aspire to do it and if we can help that by visiting schools far and wide, we absolutely love it and think it's a massive tool to get kids inspired to be athletes."
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