YOUNG Melbourne players Dion Johnstone and Declan Keilty believe the opportunity to spend a few days in the Northern Territory and be around the senior team will only benefit them long-term. 

Johnstone and Keilty arrived in Alice Springs on Thursday and spent two full days immersing themselves in the culture and surrounding communities. With both players having the weekend off, due to the VFL state game and Casey having a bye, they have also been able to watch how the senior team prepares for match day.

Keilty said it made the experience worthwhile – personally and professionally.

“It means a lot to come up here. It means that I get to hang around the team and see how they prepare themselves for away games, and how they prepare professionally and how they act,” he told Melbourne TV.

“Just to be involved, while we’ve got the weekend off is good. I’d rather be up here than not doing anything at home, so it’s good.

“It’s good to experience the culture and get to see the kids.”

Keilty, an emerging versatile tall, said he was looking to hone his craft with every opportunity.

“I’ve got to concentrate on each week. [Casey coach] Plappy (Justin Plapp) has been really good and so have the other coaches like Rookey (Max Rooke) and Macca (Brendan McCartney) – they’ve been really good with helping me develop my game,” he said.

“I’ve just got to do that each week – keep improving and giving the effort, which they want to see in me, which I think I’ve been doing, but I’ve got to keep on working on it.”

Johnstone, an exciting young small forward, who was one of Melbourne’s two NAB AFL Draft selections last year, said he was relishing being in Central Australia. 

“It’s been absolutely wonderful. The kids have come out and they’re all happy and shining. I don’t think one of them has come out without a smile on their face,” he said.

“It’s lovely to see the kids and how they are up here in their own communities and towns, so it’s been awesome.

“It’s my first time up here in Alice, so it’s great for me to experience what it’s been like up here and how people live, so it’s good.”