NEVILLE Jetta says he wouldn't mind "having a crack" at stopping exciting Port Adelaide forward Chad Wingard in the first AFL game to be played for premiership points in Alice Springs.
Speaking at Traeger Park ahead of Saturday's indigenous round clash, Jetta said Port Adelaide's matchwinner had built consistency into his game, which was making him more dangerous each week.
"He's a freak," Jetta said. "A lot of the stuff he does, not a lot of the boys can do out there."
Jetta missed Melbourne's win against Richmond in round nine with a bout of gastro but he has been consistent himself this season.
He forced his way into the team with a series of good performances in the VFL and then played his best game for the club when he quelled Adelaide forward Eddie Betts in round seven.
Jetta said every forward is different and Wingard presented "a big task" but he did gain some confidence out of the Adelaide result.
"If I do get the job on Chad [Wingard] I'll give it 100 percent," Jetta said.
Jetta said he could not wait to play in Alice Springs – a place the West Australian played at as a junior – and was proud to be representing his family, culture and past players with indigenous heritage in Indigenous Round.
The Demons will wear a jumper carrying an image inspired by Pikilyi, a waterhole and natural spring in Nyrippi, a remote indigenous community in the Northern Territory.
Melbourne captain Jack Grimes thanked the artist Ursula Napangardi for the design and also presented the Nyrippi Demons football team with a set of Melbourne jumpers.
Meanwhile, coach Paul Roos said the team enjoyed coming to the Northern Territory.
But despite the 28 degrees – the temperature is expected to drop before Saturday's game – he knows it will be no holiday.
"We know we're playing a really really good side so we need to get focused and really get ready for the game and play better than we have this year," Roos said.
Melbourne has made its presence felt in the Northern Territory, with rookies Mitch Clisby and Max King travelling two hours from Alice Springs on Friday morning to the Ti Tree community to promote trachoma elimination.
Jetta said it was developing into a win-win situation with the support for Melbourne growing.
"[We're] trying to make it like our second home, almost like a 19th man," Jetta said.
