PORT Adelaide fans across the Barossa Valley region were treated to an up close encounter as the playing group headed north for the club’s 2015 Australia Post AFL Community Camp.

The team spent two days visiting schools, community centres and aged care homes throughout Tanunda, Nuriootpa, Gawler and Kapunda.

With more than 10,000 children taking part in the camp, Port defender Tom Jonas said it was a good opportunity for players to speak about healthy eating, healthy lifestyles, and what it is like playing for the club.

“At the primary schools we try and convey a healthy lifestyle message about having fun, being active and just trying lots of new things,” Jonas said.

“With the older kids we focus more on career prospects, dealing with peer pressure, and tips on how to be good role models.”

For the students, highlights of the school visits were the question and answer sessions.

Players were asked the tough questions like which AFL team they went for as a kid, which was their second least favourite AFL team, and who cops the biggest sprays from the coach.

Some students took the chance to ask players their thoughts on the upcoming AFL Fantasy season, specifically whether they thought they were over or underpriced, and if Ollie Wines was worth picking.

They also shared what they did with their free time, where Tom Clurey won the students over after he listed all the Call of Duty games he plays.

The playing group was well received everywhere they went, but Tanunda had some favourites as local boys Sam Colquhoun and Justin Westhoff were welcomed back to their former schools.

On Monday night hundreds of children from the region attended a clinic in the centre of Nuriootpa which was run by the playing group.

The children had the chance to try a range of drills before lining up for autographs and photos with their football heroes.