IT WASN’T a final or played at the home of football in front of 80,000-plus people.

It wasn’t even a Melbourne win.

But the first AFL home and away game in Alice Springs at TIO Traeger Park Oval on Saturday – coinciding with Indigenous Round – had just about everything you could’ve wanted.

Quite simply, the match – and the day – was a beauty.

Although Melbourne was genuinely shattered it went down to the top of the ladder Port Adelaide by just 20 points – it reinforced how far the red and blue has come in such a short space of time. Just two months ago, it was non-competitive against the West Coast Eagles at the MCG, when Melbourne was smashed by 93 points in round two.

Despite being frustrated at his side’s golden opportunity to upset the No.1 team in the competition, coach Paul Roos was still able to see the bigger picture about being part of the first match for premiership points in Alice Springs. And the experience got his tick of approval.

“The surface was great. The size of the ground is fantastic and it [was] a perfect day for footy, so it was a great contest for the local [community],” he said.

“We enjoy coming up here and it’s a good relationship [we have with the Northern Territory] and I know Port [Adelaide] do [enjoy coming up here as well]. It was [also] a good [pre-match] function [on Friday] night.

“As disappointed as I am losing, I think the day itself was great for the area and I think we delivered a really good product, as they (Port Adelaide) did and it was a terrific game of footy.”

From this column’s point of view, to witness the first clash at TIO Traeger Park was a privilege.

Although it’s easy for some people to get bogged down and become negative about AFL matches being played in regional venues/smaller capital cities, the reality is that in a national competition, matches must simply continue to be staged in these areas.

It’s easy to get lost in a saturated Melbourne football market and across the rest of the country, but if you actually take a moment to ponder the notion – that it was the first AFL match to be held in Central Australia for premiership points – it’s a significant moment.

It wasn’t just important from a football perspective in the Northern Territory, but for the Territory itself.

The NT is a remarkable place.

I for one love it.

It really is a must see place for all Australians for so many reasons  - without sounding like Daryl Somers plugging the NT from a bygone era!

For Territorians – or those who have migrated there and have not returned to their native state or country – they are proud and passionate.

I met one engaging fellow, Trevor Farrows, from Darwin.

He made the 14-hour trek south, from the capital city, in his truck, with close mate Shane to watch his beloved Demons. Shane was a Power man, but even he was complementary of Melbourne’s new era under ‘Roosy’.

Trevor was born in 1965. He’s never seen a Melbourne flag. He’s still waiting longer than just about all associated with the red and blue – those who have never seen a flag and are waiting for premiership No.13.  

The smile on his face at seeing the Demons in Alice Springs, where he lived for an extensive period from the age of 14, after originally coming from Adelaide, was immense. He couldn’t stop beaming. He was simply proud to be a Territorian.

I spoke to Trevor pre and post match. The delight and belief he had in the Demons again – even though he rarely gets to see his team live – reinforced what the club and game means to people.

He was also rapt to have gained several signatures from the players, including one of his favourites: Jack Viney.

Trevor was set to depart for Darwin at 4am on Sunday, delighted with his weekend. And it was great to see.

Although he didn’t see Melbourne win, he got another fantastic insight into the future direction.

Naturally, from a professional point of view, Roos was pretty raw about the loss, because quite simply “you come up to win”.

“We’ve improved significantly over the course of the year, but I get impatient and I’m sure they (the players) do as well,” he said. 

But even he could see the incredible transformation in the team, which was averaging defeats by 77.2 points after 11 rounds last year, compared to 31.57 points per loss in 2014. Or if you take away that dismal performance against West Coast – its average losing margin is 21.33 per match.

And when you consider the Demons have dropped four matches by 20 points or fewer, the difference has been incredible in 2014.

Even when the Demons were on the back foot early in the game against Port Adelaide – the Power kicked the first four goals – Melbourne responded, something that’s been amiss in recent years.

Although Roos said his team had made “enormous strides” this season, he was restless in his pursuit for success, questioning how long it would take, before adding that the Demons had “another level to go”.

“We understand we’ve got to climb the ladder, but by the same token, it gets frustrating when you’re in a winning position [against] the best team in the competition,” he said.

“When you sit down [in] 24 or 48 hours and understand the development that’s in this footy team – [and] to play against a team that’s only lost one game and to do really, really well and play some terrific footy for the majority of the game – it is a huge step forward.”

If anything, the match just gone was a timely reminder of what the game – and the Demons – means to people.

From the senior coach to Trevor in the NT, from the hardcore Demon supporter Mark, part of the Demon Army, who I sat next to on the plane coming back from Alice Springs – it was great to see their passion for the red and blue in various forms.

The Territory came alive on Saturday, so too have the Demons.

What are you doing next Monday on Queen’s Birthday?