Before West Coast’s blockbuster match against Collingwood last weekend, young participants of the club’s Kicking Goals program took to Patersons Stadium to play in a curtain raiser match.

The students from Hedland and Newman Senior High Schools have this year taken part in Kicking Goals, a program run by the West Coast Eagles, BHP Billiton and Swan Districts Football Club.

Kicking Goals is one of Australia’s largest regional-based AFL mentoring programs, combining sports-based initiatives to help high school students in the Pilbara towns of Port Hedland and Newman achieve better educational and employment outcomes.

Students are required to maintain certain academic key performance indicators to be eligible for various incentives, including visits by West Coast players, trips to the MCG, and the opportunity to play in a curtain raiser match on Patersons Stadium before a West Coast game.

Find out more about Kicking Goals.

Thank you to the club’s principal community partner BHP Billiton for continuing to make Kicking Goals possible.