Retired St Kilda veterans Lenny Hayes and Justin Koschitzke preached the footy gospel to hundreds of pupils before braving a wet park one more time for a football clinic.

The pair was on the second leg of a four-town farewell tour, which started at Stawell and will continue with trips to Benalla and Seymour schools. 

They signed hundreds of posters, smiled in dozens of selfies and passed on plenty of tips to eager AFL hopefuls.

While officially retired, Hayes and Koschitzke were still happy to be part of the footy circus heading towards the AFL grand final next week.

“It is a great opportunity for guys recently retired to get out in the community and thank everyone for their support,” Hayes said.

“It is fantastic to get among it and get out to see the kids and say ‘thank you’.”

Hayes hung up his boots after 297 games, while Koschitzke wound up his career on 200.

Koschitzke said school visits were an integral part of life as an AFL player and he had lost count of how many footy clinics he had taken part in during his time as a professional footballer. 

“It’s great for us and the kids enjoy it.  We’re happy (AFL sponsor) Toyota has put this on and given us the opportunity to go around and say thanks one more time,” he said.

The pair would have loved to be in full preparation mode for another finals campaign but this year it was not meant to be. 

Hayes thinks Sydney will be the team to beat for this year’s premiership but Koschitzke hopes North Melbourne can beat the odds to claim the flag.