For North forward Robbie Tarrant and his team-mates, Community Camp in Ballarat has been welcome change-up to what's otherwise been a gruelling pre-season training schedule.

"The boys have really lapped up the work on the track but I suppose now is the opportunity to come together in Ballarat and reflect on all the hard work and start thinking about how we're going to approach next week against Carlton and the games that follow," Tarrant told NMFC.com.au.

"We have a tight-knit group and we're all enjoying the fact that we can get out to some local schools, meet the fans up here and embrace how far we've come as a group, but also acknowledge that we have a long way to go to fix some of the things that went wrong last year."

Hampered by a slight groin injury in recent weeks, Tarrant enjoyed his first full training session on Wednesday and was thrilled to be involved.

"To be back out there for some full-ground match simulation was great. Everyone knows rehab isn’t much fun but I'm now looking forward to building up my fitness and getting my hands back on the footy with games just around the corner."

The Roos arrived in Ballarat on Thursday for the sixth consecutive year and participated in a host of activities around the city. As always, local hero Drew Petrie was the centre of attention.

"I love being home in Ballarat. I don't come home as much as I used to, life is in Melbourne for me now. But to see so many friendly faces is great.

I walk 10 metres in the street and see someone I know and get to stop for a chat," Petrie said.

"It's very important to be up here to grow and continue on the relationship we have with the City of Ballarat. It's great to come back to somewhere familiar and it really feels like we're forging some good bonds with the whole community. I hope there's many more camps up here to come."

After lunch, the playing list split up and attended more than 10 primary schools, some of which saw AFL players for the very first time.

Robin Nahas, Daniel Wells, Lindsay Thomas and Aaron Mullett attended Smythesdale Primary School and were greeted with more than 30 kids and an intense Q&A session.

Meanwhile Cam Delaney took control out at Creswick Primary School.

"The boys love coming out to North Ballarat. I'm actually with Ballarat anyway (in the VFL) so it's fantastic to get up here and see so many kids," he said.

"It's been pretty hot up here but it's good to get the kids involved, teach them a few skills and see how they go.

"The people are fantastic up here in Ballarat and a few of the new boys this year will feel more than welcome up here."

To finish the day the group trained with various local clubs, from Sebastopol to Haddon and everywhere in between.

While the players were out directing training, the coaching staff was at Eureka Stadium to take a session with the North Ballarat Rebels.

Check out the best photos below.