Aspiring footballers from high schools all over Western Australia received a special treat yesterday when a number of prominent West Coast Eagles players visited the students during their lunch break at Country Week.

Among some of the players who visited McGillvray Oval were superstars Dean Cox, Nic Naitanui, Andrew Embley, Shannon Hurn, Matthew Priddis and Beau Waters.

The players spoke to the students about their own elite training and travelling schedules before discussing nutrition, match-day preparation and post-game recovery routines.

West Coast Eagles defender Shannon Hurn said he could sympathise with the students about the extensive travel which was necessary to compete in competitions such as Country Week.

“The travel that we have to do from Perth each week is the most of any team in the AFL and it really takes it out of you.

“We know first-hand what it’s like to have to travel and then have to compete at our best and it is tough so we commend the students on their efforts.” Hurn said.

Country Week saw a total of 2500 students from 43 regional high schools across WA travel to Perth to compete.