AFL superstars Nic Naitanui and Michael Walters make their mark in Katanning

AFL superstars Nic Naitanui and Michael Walters swung into town last Saturday to help raise about $15,000 at the Katanning Police and Rotary Charity Golf Day.

The AFL stars spent the day golfing with fans, posing for photos, signing children’s autographs and taking part in a Q&A session to help raise funds for Katanning’s St John Ambulance sub-station and the Katanning Regional Emergency Accommodation Centre.

“It’s been really good and a great turn out with the kids coming down earlier to get signatures and photos with myself and Michael,” Naitanui said.

“I’ve been to Katanning a few times. One of my good mates is from down here, so yeah, it was good to come back.”

Walters said he had a great time playing golf with the teams and catching up with family.

“It’s been good to hang out here. My mum was born in Katanning so it’s always good to come back here and see the family,” he said.

Former Katanning Rotary Club president and the event’s committee director, Andrew Pritchard, said the day could not have been better.

“We’ve had about 120 golfers out there today and around 170 turned up for the Q&A,” he said.

“Having the boys here has been brilliant, they’ve been absolutely outstanding.

“Michael Walters has a local background — I taught his mother, in fact — so it’s really interesting to have them in town.”

The Eagles ruckman and Dockers midfielder also made an appearance at the Williams Hotel on Friday night to meet the local fans and answer their questions.

“Nico and I spent our childhood growing up together so we just talked a bit about that and how we made it to the AFL, but there were a lot of questions outside of footy too,” Walters said.

“People usually know you as a football player but don’t get the chance to know you as a person.

“We really enjoy coming to country pubs, especially because you see a lot of farmers and country kids that don’t often get to meet us footy players too often.

“So it’s great to come down and spread the love.”