A teacher, mentor and friend – they’re the qualities that earned Carlton’s Simon White the Blues’ Best Clubman award at the 2015 John Nicholls Medal.

Away from the football field, White has been working with children at the Carlton’s Primary School, as part of Carlton’s High Rise Program.

White started working with the program back in 2011.

“It just started off as a bit of a kick-to-kick and a bit of a footy clinic, teaching the kids about respect and a few other things,” White said.

“From that kick-to-kick it’s evolved to a bit of classroom and a bit of reading.”

White now visits the school on a regular basis, along with teammate Cameron Wood, to help the children with their literacy skills.

“It’s been great to see the way the kids have benefited from it and to see the confidence that they’ve shown since I’ve started has been fantastic,” White said.

Back at Ikon Park, White has also been a mentor to teammate Cameron Giles, who spent 17 months in rehabilitation recovering from a serious foot injury.

Simon White with the Best Clubman award. (Photo: Carlton Football Club)

“I know how hard it is being from another state not having your family here, having a really serious injury, and not having anyone to talk to,” White said.

“So I buddied up with him and I think we made a pretty good partnership.”

Since recovering from his own serious injury, a fractured neck that he suffered while playing in 2013, White has gone from strength to strength on the field. In Round 9 the 27-year-old notched up his 50th AFL game – and he already has his sights set on the next 50.

“I’d like to get to 100 and on from there, so my full focus is on 2016,” he said.

“I’m really looking forward to working with Brendon (Bolton). Had a couple of good chats with him and I think he’s going to be fantastic for this playing group.”