On Tuesday after training, Heart players were addressed by the club’s community programs manager Sue Crow as she outlined the strides made by this new A-League club.

Crow said the club’s community program was starting to reap benefits for the A-League in Victoria’s competitive sporting marketplace with over 27,000 people being involved in their programs. 

“The players were so interested and attentive when we spoke to them and outlines what we’ve achieved over the last 18 months,” Crow told au.fourfourtwo.com.

“We told them we’d reached over 27,000 people and they were very proud

“This is part of Heart’s core values. It’s a key pillar of who we are as a club, it’s a point of difference and we are dedicated to achieving our goals.”

From day one, Heart pledged a strong community focus and have made good on that promise since they began around 18 months ago.

It’s this ethos what many see as setting the club apart from their rivals. And the fact that they employ a community managershows they are taking it seriously.

It’s one of the reasons why star striker David Williams signed for the club. After extensive community work with the Indigenous in Townsville last season, the former Fury player was impressed with Heart’s commitment in this area.

On Thursday Melbourne Heart visits Albury-Wodonga for a three-day trip that includes appearing at local schools gala day and a Coach the Coaches seminar. The senior side will also play against a local XI on Friday night.

And later this month the red and whites visit Morwell for a series of community appearances capped off by a much-anticipated A-League friendly against Newcastle Jets.

“In many ways being the new kid on the block we’ve had to get out and tell people who we are,” added Crow.

On each game-day during the A-League season Heart bring around 300 new fans from their community programs to be part of the club’s game-day experience.

She estimated it would take between three to five years to convert many of those who interact with the club at community events into regular fans, but said the club remains committed to their community values.

Another project Heart are running is the All Nations Cup for community groups, refugee groups, newly arrived, migrant service providers and local councils.

“After our Street Soccer promotion we invited one of the homeless people to walk out of the tunnel at AAMI Park,” recalled Crow.

“He said it was an amazing experience making him feel like a real player. It’s great that we connect with people this way.”

She added: “The feedback we’ve received has been very positive from the letters and emails.

"We know a lot of elite sportspeople, the last thing they’d want to do is go out and do these sorts of things.

“But our players quite often come in to the office after a community promotion and ask 'what else can I do?’”