ESSENDON'S first to fourth-year players are heading for a phone-free zone.

As part of this week's visit to the Northern Territory, the young stars will have restricted access to their mobile devices.

New coach John Worsfold confirmed the players were in for a challenging week.

"It's very hard to engage these young guys when there's anything in terms of wi-fi floating through the air," Worsfold said on Tuesday.  

Upstaged, but Ambrose wins time trial

"There'll be some rules regarding that, there'll be some withdrawal symptoms from that, that will challenge them."

The club has only publicly provided limited information about what the journey for up to a dozen Bombers youngsters to the 'Top End' will entail, primarily because they want to maintain the element of surprise.

It's believed the players will be headed for some of Australia's most remote communities, where even if they did have their phones in hand, they wouldn't work. 

"It's about getting to know each other and looking at different communities within our own country," Worsfold said.  

"A lot of it I think they'll really enjoy, they'll get a lot out of it."

Worsfold is joining the players for part of the trip.

The group flies out for Darwin on Tuesday night after a day of pre-season training.

Tuesday morning's time trial around Melbourne's Princes Park was conducted with temperatures in the low teens and drizzle in the air.

Darwin's forecast includes thunderstorms and predicted temperatures in the mid-30s.