The ex-Swans, Haw-thorn and St Kilda player visited Port Pirie with his film crew for his Foxtel television show, The Great Australian Doorstep.

His show is based on finding towns with the best-kept secrets, local legends, natural wonders and other surprises they have on their doorstep.

At a training clinic at Memorial Oval on Tuesday, he helped the children to learn footy skills.

“Life outside of football has been hectic, but it does not have the disciplines of the AFL,” he said.

His most memorable moment from his long football career is playing in the State of Origin against South Australia and playing for Sydney in the last few years.

While he has many good experiences from AFL, not all are positive with “Spida” saying: “Just being injured is a downside.

“I remember the 1997 grand final when I had did my collar bone and then retiring after a bad year at Sydney was also a down on my football career.”

He visits schools while covering the lifestyles of the young and healthy and he called at the Port Pirie West Primary School while here.

He dropped by the Portside Tavern where he played poker and is now sitting third in South Australia.

He said proudly: “I beat the crew quite convincingly.”

In the tournament, he made it to the last table, then the final three, but was pipped by local player Sal Pansini.

The drama was filmed by his crew.

At the clinic, the kids enjoyed having a chance to meet a colorful character with Bailey Congdon saying: “I liked meeting ‘Spida’ Everitt and training with him.”

Tate Boulton said: “Playing football was fun. I really liked meeting ‘Spida’.”

Aspiring AFL star Declan Ralph said: “I liked meeting someone famous and had heaps of fun doing push-ups with ‘Spida’. I want to be just like him.”

PHOTO: LOCAL TALENT...Sal Pansini, left, beat ‘Spida’ Everitt in the poker tournament at the Portside Tavern.