A group of children from Rumbalara - an indigenous football/netball club in Shepparton - were treated to a behind the scenes experience at Windy Hill, as part of the Essendon Football Club’s On the Ball program.

Essendon rookie, Jarrod Atkinson, who has previously played for Rumbalara was on hand to facilitate the session, along with the Melbourne Vixens’ Bianca Chatfield and Caitlin Thwaites.

Proudly supported by Macquarie Sports, the aim of the On The Ball program is to address the issue of harm prevention by building resilient adolescents that have the capacity to face, overcome and be strengthened by adversity.

The session included a tour of Essendon’s Hall of Fame, a netball and football clinic and a discussion session in the Essendon auditorium which covered the key messages of the program.