MELBOURNE is set to conduct two community camps this week, with the Demons to visit Alice Springs in the Northern Territory and Leongatha in Gippsland.

Manager of football operations Josh Mahoney said the team, which will play its second NAB Challenge match against Geelong Cats at TIO Traeger Park on Friday night, will also be involved in community activities in Alice Springs and its surrounding areas, with the non-playing Demons to visit Leongatha.

“Our players will be taking part in two separate community camps, with one being centred on our game in Alice Springs and another one in Leongatha,” he told melbournefc.com.au.

“The players playing in Alice Springs will participate in community activities on Thursday and Saturday, including local school visits. On Saturday, the focus will be going on more of the communities around Alice Springs, finishing with a function on Saturday night.

“The players remaining in Melbourne will be heading down to Leongatha on Thursday afternoon and participating in similar activities on Friday morning, before returning back to the club.”

Mahoney said the opportunity to play in the Northern Territory – Melbourne’s first of three matches in 2014 (one NAB Challenge and two home and away matches) – was beneficial for all parties.

“This is another great opportunity for the club to continue its relationship with the Northern Territory Government and stand on the work we have already done within the Northern Territory community,” he said.

“We see these activities as extremely important for the development of the game and the individual development of our players, as they are exposed to opportunities to speak in front of different audiences.

“They will be able to share some of their football knowledge and what they have learned in their own football career to the communities.”