Former West Coast Eagles premiership star and Horizon Power ambassador, Josh Kennedy, bounced down in Esperance this week, sharing his footy knowledge and tips with local aspiring football stars at Esperance Oval.
The three-time All Australian and 2018 AFL premiership star hosted two training sessions with approximately 60 students from Esperance Senior High School's Clontarf Academy and STARS Foundation and Wongutha CAPS School.
After an AFL career spanning 17 years yielding a whopping 723 goals, Kennedy is now in his third year as a Horizon Power ambassador.
Last week he gave inspiration to a young batch of future footy stars living in remote communities with dreams of playing in the big time.
Growing up in Northampton in regional WA, Kennedy knows too well the extra challenges of living in isolated communities while trying to get noticed.
"Being from a regional WA town, I know how hard it can be to get these types of activities happening in regional areas," said Kennedy, after guiding students through footy drills and lessons he learned on and off the field as an elite AFL player.
"It's great to give the kids access to these opportunities."
Kennedy identified with Horizon Power's ongoing efforts to strengthen regional and remote communities and build vibrancy through his regular footy clinics.
The regional energy provider's school programs support some of the state's best young footballers from Esperance and surrounding areas hone their AFL skills, and feed direct into the West Australian Football Commission Talent & Development programs, paving the way for a crack at the AFL.
Kennedy has run footy clinics in the Kimberley and Gascoyne for Horizon Power and said he enjoyed working with some of WA's rising stars in remote areas, where Horizon Power operates tailored, multiple systems - many designed specifically for the 170 remote communities it powers - to meet their unique needs living in some of the world's most isolated regions.
"Just getting on the oval, kicking the footy with the kids and seeing how much they love it, is the real reward," the retired Eagles sharpshooter said.
"The kids out here bring so much energy, it's infectious and I'm just happy to be a small part of that."
Clontarf Academy director Kevin Johnson said the regional football clinics were "important for fostering community engagement, promoting physical and mental well-being and providing pathways for talented young players".
"There's some great young talent in Esperance. The students don't usually get to play with star AFL players, so to learn from a great role model like Josh Kennedy is a great opportunity for them," he said.
Horizon Power acting CEO Krystal Skinner thanked Kennedy for engaging enthusiastically with remote communities at a range of company events, including the clinics for the next generation of footballers.
"Josh is known for his dedication to his sport and team spirit and has a strong connection to regional WA," she said.
"His values align with ours at Horizon Power and our commitment to giving back to the regional and remote WA communities we service."