IRISH-BORN defender Laura Duryea says the team’s trip to Alice Springs has been an experience like no other.

Ahead of their round four match against Collingwood, Duryea and her teammates have been involved in several community activities since arriving in the Red Centre on Wednesday morning.

They have immersed themselves in the local culture, exploring the picturesque setting and tasting some traditional tucker.

“We had a ‘dinner under the stars’ experience on our first night, where we got to try kangaroo, emu and lots of other indigenous foods,” Duryea told melbournefc.com.au.

“We were also lucky enough to go out to the indigenous communities and visit the primary school kids, which I loved being a primary school teacher.

“We read them a story and were teaching them about trachoma, and the importance of washing their hands and faces.”

Education has been a prominent focus throughout the stay.

With Alice Springs residents looking up to and idolising players at the elite level, there has been great opportunity to share some important messages.

This was evident when players were given the chance to visit inmates at the local women’s prison on Friday morning.

Duryea was one of the lucky few, describing it is an “eye-opener”.

“We got to have a kick of the footy and learn a bit about them; how they are educating themselves and how they plan on improving their lives once they’re out,” she said.

“It was pretty sad to hear though that we had probably met some of their kids, as they live in the indigenous community that we visited the day before.”

The Alice Springs Female Correctional Facility houses 47 women on domestic violence offences, with most inside due to retaliation from years of being a victim.

Players spoke to the inmates about the NO MORE Violence Campaign, which aims to educate and reduce family domestic violence in indigenous communities.

Understanding the importance of the issue, Duryea said it is in experience she won’t forget.

“It just makes us grateful for the opportunity that we have and for the position we are in,” she said.

“It’s awesome to be able to give back and bring joy to people’s faces, but it really is teaching us how to be resilient and express our gratitude.”

The trip to Alice Springs is the last stop on the Demons’ epic road trip – the team departed Melbourne seven days ago, flying to Perth for their round three match – with Duryea deeming it as a great time to bond.

The backline star said the extra time on the road was crucial in moving past the five-point loss to Fremantle last weekend.

“Last year when we had our first loss in Sydney, we returned home the following day, meaning we were still talking about it and dwelling on it when we came into training on Tuesday,” Duryea said.

“This time, the fact that we were all together allowed us to debrief quickly and move on.

“Obviously it’s tough losing a game, but that ability to shift our focus on faster has been really important.”

The match against Collingwood, which will kick off at 5.40pm CST on Saturday evening at TIO Traeger Park, will be the first ever AFL Women’s match played in Alice Springs.

The historic event is expected to draw a big crowd, with fans travelling from communities far and wide to come and watch the game.

“Everyone is just so excited to get out there. The fact that we’ve been able to have these experiences in Alice Springs in the lead up to the game just makes it extra special,” Duryea said.

“There are a lot of Dees supporters out here and I know a lot of the kids that we visited are making the trek in.”

Entry is free, with gates opening at 4.15pm local time.