ANGUS Brayshaw says arriving early in Alice Springs and getting among the community has been a great experience.

Although Brayshaw, who is sidelined with concussion, would naturally love to be playing against Port Adelaide at TIO Traeger Park Oval on Saturday, the second-year Melbourne player said mixing with the locals in Central Australia had been a great opportunity.

“We’ve got a relationship with the Northern Territory and we also play a game up here in Darwin. Being injured and out with a few concussions, I’ve been able to get involved with the community up here,” he told Melbourne TV

“It’s completely different to anything that anyone in Melbourne has experienced in Victoria. The community focus that we put in up here versus what we do in Melbourne is two different experiences.

“Having played up here last year, I didn’t get to do much of this stuff and now being here and getting involved in the community – I’ve just had my eyes opened to so many different things and the kids up here absolutely love football and they live and breathe it.”

Brayshaw said he had visited schools and been involved in football clinics, and also helped spread an important message.

“We’ve been out to a few clinics and been out to a few schools and one of the issues up here is trachoma – it’s an infection of the eye that potentially can leave these kids blind, which is terrible. We’ve been out educating a few kids on that and really just getting involved in the community,” he said.

“It’s been really easy and a lot of fun as well – and getting out of my comfort zone, having never done anything in this space before with these kids. They’re a bit more secluded and quiet, but once you crack their shell, they just open up and they love footy, so it’s easy to get along with them. It’s awesome.

“It’s been great weather and Melbourne’s been terrible over the last couple of days – up here it’s been sunshine all of the time. I’ve been loving my time up here and hopefully the Dees can get a win and tick it all off for me.”