THE AFL premiership cup made a rare visit to a group of excited teenagers at Warrnambool College on Monday.
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The coveted silverware was being showcased as part of the Western Bulldogs Leadership project.
Scores of teenagers gathered at the school’s courts area during their lunch break to touch the prized trophy.
Warrnambool College teacher Zacc Struth said the 15 students currently enrolled in the program were engaging well.
“The program teaches leadership in multi-cultural groups within the school,” he said.
“The students meet once a week.
“They are learning great skills I’m sure they’ll take with them into the future.”
Program participant Warrnambool College year 11 student Trinity Pompey said it was more than a football syllabus.
“It’s a really good program,” he said.
“It’s about giving back to the school and to the community and it’s helping us build leadership skills.”
Western Bulldogs youth development coordinator Jenna Browne accompanied the cup on its 300km journey from Melbourne to Warrnambool.
“This is a very well-travelled cup,” she said.
“It’s pretty much never in the office.
“It even has it’s own booking system.”
Ms Browne said the Warrnambool College leadership group was unique.
“Of the 12 councils in Western Victoria that we deal with, this is our only school-based program.”
The 12-month program established in 2013 relies on the support from Warrnambool City Council and Warrnambool’s Brophy Family Services.
The premiership cup holds particular fondness to the south-west given its connection with Hamilton export Liam Picken and Camperdown’s Easton Wood.
Picken was one of the Bulldogs’ best during the 2016 AFL grand final and Wood captained the club to a famous victory that ended a 62-year premiership drought.
Wood took over captaincy of the team after Bulldogs skipper Bob Murphy went down with a season-ending knee injury late in the year.
Picken's father Bill, who was recruited from Macarthur, was a champion centre half-back for Collingwood in the 1970s and 80s.
Picken senior was part of an era of heartache for the Magpies where they lost four grand finals.
Despite a tough start to the season the Dogs are still in premiership contention, currently sitting in eighth place with five wins from their first nine games.