MELBOURNE ruckman Mark Jamar said he noticed a change in teammate Liam Jurrah in the days the Demons spent in Darwin ahead of Saturday night's game.

Jurrah, who hails from Yuendumu in Central Australia, was on his first trip to the Territory with the Demons for a home-and-away match.

Jamar said Jurrah, who kicked three goals in Melbourne's 21-point win over Port Adelaide at TIO Stadium, had revelled in the opportunity to visit his native Territory and play in front of the nearest thing he's had to a home crowd in his two-and-a-half year AFL career.

"He's probably been a bit more talkative," Jamar told afl.com.au after the game.

"He's really come out of his shell over the last year anyway, and he's a terrific guy and we've all got to know him pretty well.

"We're just rapt that he can come back here and play well in front of his home crowd.

"He didn't grow up here but it's probably more of a home crowd than he'd get in Melbourne, but then again, the Melbourne supporters love him too so he gets cheers wherever he goes."

Jamar said many of Jurrah's relatives had attended the match, and had he met a few members of his extensive family, including his brother, in the lead up.

"I had a few photos with his family and they're lovely people," he said.

"They made the trip up from Yuendumu and it's great to socialise with them and learn a bit about his family and where he's come from and interact with them a bit.

"He's very popular among the Darwin community."

Jurrah's popularity with the 7000-plus crowd was emphasised the instant he touched the ball just over a minute into the match and the stands erupted.

He had an impressive second quarter in which he kicked three goals and took a brave mark when he ran into Steven Salopek.

Coach Dean Bailey, who predicted Jurrah would turn it on in Darwin's heat, said the forward's first half was impressive, but that he had dropped off slightly after the main break.

"He was electric at times. The mark he took running back with the flight I thought was outstanding, with great courage," he said.

"He was very, very keen to play well. He was the only indigenous player in our team tonight, and he had a lot of pressure from the indigenous boys back home.

"He's a very proud Warlpiri leader, and his best way of showing that is when he plays well, and he was very keen to play well tonight."

Jamar said Jurrah had changed greatly since he arrived at the club in the NAB AFL Pre-season Draft of 2008, both on and off the field.

"I think he works harder off the ball. It's not just about taking the mark; it's about getting front and centre, and I watched him tonight and he did a lot of that stuff really well," he said.

"It just goes to show how much he's developed and how far his game has come."