Building Futures: Islamic College of Sport Students at The Huddle

Four Vocational Major classes from the Islamic College of Sport recently joined us at The Huddle across four days, each built around what matters most to young people on the cusp of entering the workforce: knowing how to work well with others, and knowing how to present themselves.

Sessions opened with a player Q&A, with AFL players Brayden George, Cooper Harvey, Riley Hardeman, and Caleb Daniel visiting across the program to speak directly with students and field their questions. Conversations covered the pathway to AFL, the work required to get there, and what professional life at the club genuinely looks like day to day. For VM students, many of whom are actively preparing for employment or further training, that kind of direct access to young sporting professionals navigating their own careers set a strong tone for everything that followed.

From there, students moved into the Networking and Professionalism session, grounded firmly in the practical realities of entering the job market. The focus was on how to conduct yourself in a professional environment, understanding how important your network is to creating employment opportunities, and how to prepare for and perform well in a job interview. The player Q&A provided a natural lead-in: students had just heard players reflect honestly on their own professional journeys, which gave the interview preparation and networking content something concrete to anchor to.

Sessions closed with Game Day, The Huddle's immersive AFL-themed excursion that uses cutting-edge technology to put students into hands-on, collaborative challenges. For a cohort that had spent the morning thinking about teamwork and professionalism in the abstract, Game Day gave them a chance to put both into practice in a setting where those qualities are immediately visible.

It was four days that demonstrated exactly what the partnership between The Huddle and Islamic College of Sport makes possible, with young people leaving with sharper skills, broader perspectives, and a genuine connection to a club and community that is invested in their futures. We look forward to continuing to build on what has been a fantastic relationship.