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Gold Coast SUNS captain Gary Ablett is doing great things for the game in South East Queensland, and was yesterday a much sought after figure as he spent time talking to and playing with a group of AFLQ Gold Coast’s junior players.

Representing all 12 Gold Coast junior AFL teams, the gathering was part of a photo shoot to promote the Clubs Community Camp and this weekend’s Junior clubs sign-on at the Broadwater Parklands, Southport.

From Saturday, Ablett and the GC SUNS entire playing list will commence an exhaustive three day Community Camp, with dozens of appearances , public training sessions, coaching clinics and signing sessions penciled in.

On Saturday morning from 9.00am, the entire GC SUNS list will be at Broadwater Parklands for a sign on day for all Gold Coast junior clubs. Players will mingle with Gold Coast football families, sign autographs and share footy stories with plenty of excited kids.

Ablett said he was a big fan of the GC SUNS commitment to junior level football.

“I think it’s fantastic, as obviously the AFL is trying to grow the game up here. And we want to grow it as a football club and get along and support these young kids. I know as a kid going along to these clinics was fantastic. You look up to these AFL players and I know it made me want to play AFL football.”

The club has a full agenda in coming days.

On Sunday players will be back at Kurrawa to receive Bronze Medallions earned as part a joint community venture with Kurrawa SLSC.

Monday morning and the GC SUNS players will visit various schools across the Gold Coast to launch the ‘Are you smarter than an GC SUNS player?‘ quiz.

Tuesday sees the entire playing roster heading West and assembling at Dauth Park, Beenleigh from 2.00pm for a full open training session which will be followed by a massive interactive Super Clinic.

GC SUNS Community Manager Corey Bell, said the players were looking forward to meeting the regions junior AFL players and encouraging them to get behind the team in 2011.

“AFL footy can be a bit of a bubble, but our club tries to overcome that by being accessible and by offering a genuine and positive presence in the community,” Corey said.

“When the players come to the GC SUNS, they know that they’ll be a big part of the club’s community program, none of them treat it like a part of their job, it’s actually something they are all very happy to do.”

“They may be stars now, but they were all once junior footballers like the kids they’ll meet up with during the Community Camp.”

“I think that’s one of the great things about our game, the fact that everyone has a soft spot for and really respects the grassroots level of the sport.”