AHEAD of their third AFLW match in Darwin, Richmond and Essendon are now old hands when it comes to dealing with the heat.
The forecast for Sunday night's game is about 30 degrees with 50 per cent humidity come the opening siren which, while far from Melbourne's current weather, is considered manageable by the players.
The usual icebox rooms behind the bench will be in operation, with pre-match hydration considered key.
"It's actually been something we've been working on since the start of pre-season," Essendon reigning best-and-fairest Georgia Nanscawen told reporters on Saturday.
"We're aware this game is coming up, and we're very fortunate at the Hangar to have access to the heat chambers and saunas, so preparing really early for it.
"We address it, we do all the right things, but in the end it's just another game. The conditions are the same for both teams and we really look forward to playing in it."
This year, Nanscawen chose to make public her Indigenous heritage with the Waywurra mob for the first time, and is set take part in the pre-match gift exchange alongside Richmond forward and Palawa woman Mackenzie Ford.
"Just being able to come together as a group and celebrate different cultures, and alongside the Bombers as well is really important, it's something we can celebrate together," Ford said.
"From my family perspective, coming from the other end (of Australia) in Tassie, it's really cool to come up here and have this experience as well."
Essendon skipper Bonnie Toogood was forced to sit out last year's Dreamtime match due to suspension and is chomping at the bit to be back involved on the field in one of her favourite matches for the season.
"It's just a great game to be a part of – the atmosphere, the build-up to the game as well and our ability to connect in with community is fantastic. Seeing the next generation come in and fill the stands here in Darwin, it's such a great atmosphere and I can't wait till tomorrow night," she said.
"We do such great work connecting in with our community here, particularly since this game has started. We're actually really keen to get out on Monday into the community, connect in with schools a little further which all the players love doing, it’s really important to us. We've got a great connection up in Tiwi as well, we've got some Xavier College girls coming back with us to our team hotel after training. It's another opportunity to connect in with community, share stories and celebrate, and it's the main reason as to why we want to come up here and celebrate Dreamtime."
One person who won't be in Darwin is Richmond's forwards coach Brendan Fevola, who suffered what was ultimately determined to be a minor knee injury in Wednesday night's Legends Game.
Given the swelling around the joint, Fevola isn't allowed to fly north, with director of coaching and former Collingwood senior coach Steve Symonds set to take on the game-day role in his stead.
"He's honestly absolutely devastated; I think he's got more FOMO (fear of missing out) than anyone at the moment," Richmond co-captain Gab Seymour said.
"Good news is that he's escaped any serious injury, so we're actually saying it's a bit of carry on that he's not up here at the moment. But he'll be good to be back in a couple of weeks, and we'll jump on the phone with him this afternoon.
"He's just such an awesome presence. He makes everyone in that forward line feel like they're the best player in the world, and the energy he's brought our group has been invaluable."
