NEIL Craig says development remains Melbourne’s No. 1 priority for the rest of the 2013 season.

The Melbourne coach said it was critical that players made inroads in their game during their final seven home and away matches of the year.

“From an individual point of view, [we want] individual players to work on their game and to get games experience and play highly competitive footy. We also want development of the team,” he told The Craig Report.

“We’ve just come off two fantastic games for us, against Sydney, where we felt their intensity around the contested ball, and playing Geelong down at Geelong, where we felt their pressure.

“So development is the key word for the rest of the year, both from an individual and team perspective.”

Craig said this week’s trip to Darwin was a great opportunity for the club, and Melbourne would maximise its opportunities in the Top End.

“We’re going up on Tuesday to acclimatise to the conditions, to do some clinics, to get involved in the community and to get ourselves ready to have a really good game against the Brisbane Lions,” he said.

“The chances are that it will be wet and slippery, because of the humid conditions up there and any rain that they may get.

“We’re looking forward to a good, strong performance up in Darwin, and it’s important for our presence up there to put our flag down as the Melbourne footy club and make the Northern Territory the land of the Demons.”