Young gun Dominic Barry bonds with Demons on Northern Territory training camp

ALICE Springs' speedster Dominic Barry feels a sense of belonging at Melbourne after completing a gruelling Top End camp on Saturday.

Dominic Barry

ALICE Springs' speedster Dominic Barry feels a sense of belonging at Melbourne after completing a gruelling training venture in the Top End on Saturday.

The 18-year-old joined the Demons in a pre-draft trade with Greater Western Sydney and was thrust into a nine-day camp designed to build physical and mental strength.

The squad completed a 35km trek through Kakadu National Park a week after a first training session was cut short because of sapping heat and humidity on the hottest December day in Darwin for 36 years.

Barry said there was a noticeable difference within the playing group when they left the Territory yesterday.

"It was good to bond with all the boys, because on these sort of trips there is nowhere to hide," he said.

"Alice Springs is as far (north) as I go, so I'm one of the boys that are unfamiliar with this weather and I'm in the same position as the other guys.

"Everyone is told to get out of their comfort zones on these trips, so I think everyone contributed in a way to help the team. On the walk, there were a few younger boys lifting the older ones up, and that's what it's all about."

Pic gallery: Dees' Top End commando course

Fellow Territorian Aaron Davey, 29, said the midfielder had taken his AFL journey in his stride.

"It's always good to have more indigenous boys at the club, obviously with Aussie (Wonaeamirri) and Liam (Jurrah) gone," he said. "Dom has fitted in well and gotten on with all the boys."

GEELONG recruit Josh Caddy did his best to make an immediate impact on his new captain Joel Selwood by breaking the skipper's nose at their Falls Creek training camp on Friday.