Essendon's VFL coach Blake Caracella expects his new-look side to show all the traits of the 152-year-old club when the Bombers fly into Darwin this week.
The VFL Bombers will meet the NTFL Buffaloes in another chapter to a long playing tradition that began with Kevin Sheedy's AFL side in 1986.
Essendon will unveil new recruit Jack Peris, the 20-year-old son of former Olympian Nova Peris, who will play his first game in the black and red jumper against the Territory Buffaloes.
Three Kantillas from the Tiwi Bombers will also don the Essendon jumper; Kim, Brendan and Karlson Kantilla, who will add more local content to the visitors' side.
Caracella said all of his players were outside AFL listed players at the Bombers, with the 22 players making the trip to the Top End involved in their first pre-season.
"We're definitely looking forward to playing against the NT rep team, particularly when our players have only had a brief connection with the Essendon footy club,'' he said.
"We've got a long history with the Tiwis and across the NT, so we're looking forward to exploring that again with a squad that has played a lot of country football and are stepping up to the VFL for the first time.
"It will be a real challenge for them to compete and connect, I was last in Darwin in 2020 when Essendon played in the Dreamtime Game against Richmond at TIO Stadium and previously as a player 20 years ago.
"All I remember is it was hot and sweaty and the ball was slippery, even if it wasn't raining.''
While the AFL listed Davey brothers (Alwyn Jr and Jayden) will not be playing, Caracella can see some big positives coming out of Jack Peris' debut.
"Jack's just come across to us after being delisted by St Kilda and training with the Gold Coast and is a very exciting small forward who can put pressure on his opponent, find the ball and use it very well,'' he said.
"His mum is Nova Peris, the former Olympian who was involved with Long Foundation, so there are some nice ties with Essendon there.''
The Bombers are Nova Peris' favourite team after her previous association with the club's Indigenous Sports Hall of Fame.
Caracella wants his players to play the Essendon brand of football so fans around the country can be proud of what they see across the VFL and AFL sides.
"We've only had this group together for about seven weeks so they're still getting to know each other,'' he said.
"But I'm hoping you will see a very competitive side that will be exciting when they have the footy and can create a lot of pressure defensively as well.''
Caracella knows the NT Buffaloes will come out charging after acclimatising to Darwin's wet season weather and TIO Stadium's playing surface after 14 rounds of the NTFL season.
"They'll have the added benefit of being acclimatised with the weather, humidity and slippery conditions whether it's raining or not,'' he said.
"But we're up to the challenge against a Territory that has got a lot of talent, as I know with Steven Motlop, who I coached at Geelong a while back.
"So we'll get an opportunity to watch our guys against ex-AFL players (Jed Anderson, Steven Motlop, Jarrod Brander) and that can only be a positive.''
The NTFL-Essendon women's game kicks off at 6pm at TIO Stadium Tonight before the men's game at 7.45pm.
