Davey said the players had worked very hard in Darwin, and they will gain a greater appreciation when they hike through Kakadu National Park on Thursday.
“We planned to come up here … to take us out of our comfort zone,” he said.
“We’ve got a big challenge tomorrow (Thursday), when we walk around Nourlangie Rock, but overall the camp has been great for everyone to get to know each other better and get closer.”
Although Davey has spent plenty of time in the Kakadu region, he has never walked the 35 km trail in the park.
Davey said it was also important that AFL clubs visited communities such as Jabiru in the Kakadu region. He actually went to school in Jabiru for a brief period, before returning to Darwin.
At the Jabiru clinic on Wednesday, Davey caught up with some family and a relative of former Demon Matthew Whelan, who was the first indigenous player to reach 150 matches for Melbourne.
“It’s an amazing community. When teams come to the Top End, they go to the Tiwi Islands and other communities in remote areas, but old Jabiru gets left out,” he said.
“So I think it’s great that the boys go out and mix with the local kids [in Jabiru] … even if there aren’t too many kids here.
“But it’s a really good turn out today (Wednesday).”
Davey said Melbourne’s pre-season was the toughest he had been involved with at the club.
“Last year was pretty solid and it’s gone up a notch this year,” he said.
“It’s been tough … but the guys are a lot fitter and stronger.”
