Many Australians would never have heard of Maningrida.

It’s a remote community in Arnhem Land - 500km east of Darwin.

However, the small, predominantly Indigenous community, holds a devastating title.

Maningrida residents suffer the highest rate of rheumatic heart disease on the planet – and it’s entirely preventable.

For the past year the Sydney Swans, in partnership with Mala’la Health, have been working to make a difference.

In November, a group of Swans players and staff travelled to the remote community for a week to raise awareness of acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease.

Watch the video below.

“We take it for granted in the city, we have the medical help and the hospitals around us, but these kids and families do it a bit harder,” said forward Hayden McLean.

Through a series of school sessions, coaching clinics and outstation visits, the Swans players – including Lance Franklin, Sam Wicks, Will Gould, Braeden Campbell and Hayden McLean – were taught about the community’s struggles, and in turn, made it their aim to speak with Maningrida residents about cleanliness and hygiene.

“In the classroom we were taught a thing or two about scabies and heart disease, and how that affects the community,” said defender Will Gould.

It was a two-way learning venture based primarily on meaningful relationships and open listening.

“It’s a testament to what can be achieved with respectful relationships,” said Jarred Hodges, Sydney Swans Indigenous Strategy Manager.

Champion forward Lance Franklin relished his time in the Top End.

“It’s definitely something I’ll never forget. It really brought the community together. Being a proud Aboriginal man, to come back and give back to the community is something I really wanted to do,” he said.

“The boys will be back, that’s for sure.”