17 children from Cherbourg State School had their first taste of AFL and the Gabba when the Lions hosted them at their indigenous themed round against Essendon.

“The whole experience was mind-blowing for these kids,” Shannon Webb, their Year 6 teacher said.

“We took the high attending students from Year 3 to Year 6 as attendance is a big focus here.

“That trip down there is the start of rewarding students for good attendance.”

The town of Cherbourgh, an Indigenous community in Central Queensland is about 3.5 hours north of Brisbane. The school was invited to join the Lions in their own indigenous themed round last Sunday afternoon.

Earlier that day more than 200 walkers took part in Brisbane’s The Long Walk, players wore their Sir Doug Nicholls Round guernsey for a second time and the Yerongpan Aboriginal Dancers performed a Welcome to Country.

Before bounce, the children from the school got to go on the field and had a special visit from injured Lions player Mitch Robinson, who presented them all with their very own Lions guernsey.

“Feeling really special was a huge thing for them,” Webb said.

During the game, the students proudly barracked for the Lions in a heated clash against the Bombers.

On the way back, the students were all buzzing, even after a long bus ride.

The following day at school assembly all were proudly wearing their Lions jumpers.

Cherbourg State School students enroute to the Gabba for Round 12 v Essendon.

“Every kid that went wore their guernsey to school on Monday." Webb said.

“The biggest thing is that it really advertised the game to them…Kids are kicking the footy at lunchtime and trying to mark it like an AFL footy.”

The school thanked the Lions for providing their students with a day they will never forget.

“It’s been such a good thing for these kids. They don’t often get a big opportunity like this.”