Local sport-based school SEDA College welcomed two former elite sportsmen on Monday for a training session at Shepparton Sports Stadium.
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Former NBA basketballer and Olympian Chris Anstey and former AFL footballer and Essendon champion Dustin Fletcher held a training session for SEDA College students.
For students looking to complete years 11 and 12, SEDA College focuses on developing students' skills through a hands-on learning approach immersed in the sports industry.
Monday's session with Anstey and Fletcher comes before the college's information session next Wednesday.
Next week's information session will be held at Deakin Reserve, at the Shepparton Football Club's clubrooms, beginning at 7pm.
AFL legend and 400-gamer Fletcher highlighted how he recently got involved with SEDA and why he has jumped on board.
"I got asked about a month ago if I would be interested and I love coaching, so I did my background on the SEDA program to find out more," Fletcher said.
"And it's a program I can really relate too.
"You can see how the program benefits a wide-range of students."
Anstey — who played three seasons on a NBA roster — is an industry ambassador for SEDA and spoke of the different pathways students could venture through SEDA.
"Traditional high schools are not for everybody," Anstey said.
"The thing with sport, it's so big in Australia now.
"You won't find too many jobs that don't exist in the sporting industry.
"So whether you like finance, graphic design or marketing, in SEDA you are always around sporting people and a sport environment.
"It's a very viable alternative to traditional year 11 and 12 schooling curriculum."
Anstey said he and Fletcher — who he grew up playing sports with — always enjoyed getting out to regional schools and helping out in some capacity.
"We understand regional students don't have the resources of their city counterparts, so we love getting out here and doing what we can."
SEDA College teacher John Byrnes spoke highly of the visit from the two sportsmen.
"It was a great opportunity for our kids to have guys of that quality come to speak with them," Byrnes said.
"It's an unbelievable learning experience for them.
"To get this experience from such high-calibre sportsmen is great, not only for the students, but for the college as well."
For those interested in attending next week's information session, you can register via SEDA Shepparton's website, seda.vic.edu.au/shepparton/
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