RETURNING back to their roots.

It didn’t take much for Carlton’s current and future stars to wind their minds back to when they were meeting their own football icons.

Late last week, the Blues ventured to primary schools in the northern corridor of Melbourne, running clinics with tomorrow’s heroes.

Venturing out to 26 schools and seeing 3,800 students, players from Carlton’s men’s and women’s teams put on a show for the younger generation.

Speaking to Carlton Media, Madison Prespakis and Will Setterfield said the chance to head to primary schools was a reminder of where they came from.

01:46

Carlton in the community: Future stars meet tomorrow's heroes

Young guns Madison Prespakis and Will Setterfield speak on Carlton's primary school visits as part of its community camp.

“I remember when I was in primary school and in high school, I always made sure I was there on the day that we had AFL players coming in — no matter what team it is,” Prespakis said.

“I’m still getting used to it… it hits home a little bit. You’re like, ‘Wow, these people know who you are’.

“That’s pretty special to me: to see the smile on their faces is everything.”

Setterfield echoed the sentiments of his Navy Blue counterpart when speaking from St. Joseph’s Primary School in Mernda.

After all, at just 22 (Setterfield) and 19 (Prespakis) years of age, the duo aren’t far removed from dreaming big as wide-eyed kids.

Setterfield said the Carlton playing group relished the chance to get out to schools for the community camp.

“It’s an awesome opportunity. We can be pretty important as football players to give back to these kids,” Setterfield said.

“It shows the impact as AFL players which we can have on such young kids. It’s an opportunity to inspire them and get them excited.

“You always dreamed of being a player growing up, so to get a player to a school is very exciting.”

Prespakis said the community camp was a chance to show the Club’s widespread investment to the northern corridor of Melbourne.

“It’s in our region and a pretty big part of Carlton,” she said.

“I’m in my second year, but to set an example and be a role model to these kids, especially females — hopefully those young girls want to go the same way I went.”