Richmond ruckman Ivan Maric recently helped to facilitate the Roaring Ahead Auskick program with primary school children living in a Fitzroy housing estate.

The program, run in partnership with Richmond Football Club, Victoria Police and AFLVic, aims to engage the students with different activities, including Australian Football.

Through the program, the participants work on developing different attributes, including teamwork, communication and respect for others.

Richmond has a limited number of signed sublimated jumpers for your charities or community fundraising initiatives, click here for more information, or to purchase yours today.

Richmond has partnered with Victoria Police for six years to deliver the eight-week Roaring Ahead Auskick program.

Maric donated his time to take a session of the program, assisting the participants to learn and improve their football skills and drills.

“The kids were great, they were eager to learn, and showed a lot of interest during the session,” Maric said.

“Programs such as this one are important to give children, who might not have opportunities like this very often, a chance to be engaged in activities and also reinforce the message to respect each other and work as a team.”

Chris McGeachan, Youth Resource Officer at Victoria Police, said the presence of role models like Maric can be so powerful for the participants.

“Many of the children we work with on the housing estates are at high risk of becoming involved in criminal activities,” he said.

“Programs like Roaring Ahead Auskick program are very important, as they provide the kids with a connection to excellent role models, such as Ivan Maric and Richmond’s junior development coaches.”