IT'S ALMOST 5.30pm on Saturday afternoon when a large bus kicks up a cloud of dust as it rolls into the car park of TIO Stadium.

Around the same time, another bus arrives, carrying very similar cargo. A group of fit-looking and focused athletes disembark and head for buildings surrounding an arena, soon to play host to a battle between those in red, white and blue, and those decked out in teal currently on opposing ends of the lot.

Those encased in the former strip head for familiar facilities. The Bulldogs have now played in Darwin once a season since 2004, and are well rehearsed when it comes to their pre-match drill.

There are notable differences to the routine encountered when playing in Melbourne. Firstly, their quarters are separated into three different rooms – a change room, a bathroom, and a room for massages and treatment.

The rooms are smaller than they're used to, and force Matthew Boyd and Daniel Cross – who usually embark on a pre-match fitness regime of running around and working up a sweat – to take a jog around the stadium.

At 5.45pm, a group of Bulldogs get their first walk on the field as the curtain raising under-16s match breaks for three-quarter time. Some wander into the cool room alongside the oval while others casually bounce Sherrins off the awaiting turf.

In the massage room, it's quiet. The fans are on and players are attempting to relax as the Dogs' fitness staff release their tight muscles. Will Minson has his headphones in and Jason Akermanis looks content as his hamstrings are attended to.

In the changerooms, music blares from speakers while the club's dietician and doctors go about setting up food and medical supplies required for the afternoon. There are no players around except for Mitch Hahn, who is rifling through his bag. The game is still nearly an hour and a half away – there's no need for rush yet.

Outside, club staff busy themselves ensuring the coach's box features the required number of sponsorship signs and that Rodney Eade's preferred instrument of communication – a telephone rather than headset – is installed.

Eade, meanwhile, is on the boundary line. The under-16s game is coming to an end, and the Dogs are getting restless. The time is nearing 6pm, the club has been here for half an hour, and Eade has already completed two radio interviews and one television appearance. All in a day's work of a senior coach.

Minson, Daniel Giansiracusa, Josh Hill, and emergency Callan Ward are wandering around in warm-up gear. Boyd returns from his run, Lindsay Gilbee emerges, and the players start to get a tad jumpy.

Minson copes with this by engaging in a frenetic reflex drill with boxing coach Tim Smith in the cool room, with Smith firing a tennis ball at him repeatedly with the ruckman repelling every shot. It's 6.07pm.

Ryan Griffen looks edgy. He's standing in the doorway of the changerooms at the top of the race, rebounding a football off the top of the door frame. The sound of the thumping, combined with the steady increase in volume as fans file in, becomes more audible as his intensity increases.

The under-16s finish. The young players haven't even left the field before Minson, Griffen, Andrejs Everitt and Farren Ray race out for a kick, with Gilbee retreating into the cool room shortly after.

He too takes on a punishing regime with Smith – he completes a rapid boxing session in the chilly box while Hahn stretches in the race alongside.

Eade does another radio interview, and assistant coach Leon Cameron is located after a media request is made. Ward wanders up and down the race in sandshoes, chatting and bouncing a ball. It's a stress-free evening for the first year player, as at 6.25pm, the team sheets are in and there are no late changes. He's off for the night.

Just as the sides are confirmed, Brad Johnson emerges from the rooms, a vision of leadership. His socks are pulled up, his mouthguard tucked in the top, his shirt tucked in. He means business.

Five minutes later, so does the team. The first warm-up commences, and much to the delight of the club's cheer squad, which is situated next to the race, the players file out for a run around.

Ten minutes later, we're back inside again. The players start to put on their guernseys, take final hydration intakes and are running over game plans. The final address from Eade looms, which is when the doors are closed.

Words are delivered, intentions made clear, and the players are inspired as they congregate at the top of the race, ready to take to the lush Top End oval.

It's 7.10pm. The crowd has seen the banner, sung the song, and we're ready to go.

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of the club.