Bega Bombers junior coach Travis Broughton said the club was offered two playing slots for a half-time fixture during the Giants match with Richmond on Saturday. 

“As soon as I had posted it up on Facebook, we filled the spots within about 24 hours,” Broughton said with a laugh. 

“This time we’re lucky enough to have two slots, one for five to seven-year olds and one for the eight year olds.”

The two groups will be made up largely of participants in the Bega Bombers Auskick program and will serve as an eye-opening opportunity for some young players. 

“The only disappointment is when you can’t offer it to everybody, we would love to take all the kids up,” Broughton said. 

The kids will get a shot at playing in front of about 20,000 roaring AFL fans as well as watching a live AFL match. 

Bega Auskick has been involved in two half-time displays before and Broughton said it was a great experience for the kids no matter, but a few had been lucky enough to meet some of their sporting idols. 

“Not many kids get to say they’ve gone and played at a big AFL ground,” he said. 

“The winning side often comes to the boundary and gives some high fives and some of the kids have been able to wrangle themselves into the change room for the victory song.

“As a coach the thing I look forward to most is to see their faces when they run out on a field like that, it is pretty awesome in itself.”

Broughton said it was an exciting time to be a junior coach, particularly as Bega and Tathra consider merger options.

The strengthening bond between the two clubs had seen growth in both senior and junior sections and Broughton said it opened up pathways to senior play and opportunities outside of the football field. 

“Now there is a place for the kids to go into a senior club and continue their development,” he said. 

“It’s great to see that camaraderie and kids pulling off the one per centers, you see their progress and that is an awesome feeling.”