The Western Bulldogs’ annual Pride Game will have a new home in Season 7 of the AFLW – Ballarat’s Mars Stadium.
For the first time, the Bulldogs’ marquee fixture will move away from VU Whitten Oval, where it began in 2018 and has risen in prominence ever since.
What once was a one-off game between the Bulldogs and Carlton, the AFL has in recent years moved to a competition-wide Pride Round, which falls in Round 8 of the upcoming season, during October.
The Dogs will take on St Kilda in the clash Sunday, October 16, in a game scheduled to be broadcast on free-to-air TV via Channel 7.
Due to the unavailability of the Bulldogs’ home base as redevelopment works continue at the precinct, the Club’s women’s team has secured two games in Ballarat, with the other match against Geelong in Round 6.
The Bulldogs made history last season, hosting the first-ever AFLW game for premiership points at Mars Stadium.
The AFL announced the fixture for Season 7 of the AFLW competition earlier this week.
“It’s a fantastic result for the region, and a fantastic result for the Club,” said Bulldogs’ Chief Commercial and Strategy Officer, Kon Karavias.
“We really love our relationship and partnership with Ballarat. It’s our home away from home, and every time we come here we really feel the love.
“Of particular significance, to be playing our Pride Game here is amazing.
“We’re a Club which is dedicated to inclusion and diversity, and creating a safe space for the whole community.
“That goes to the essence of what the Pride Game stands for, and we can’t wait to host the game for the first time in Ballarat, at Mars Stadium.”
Amy Fraby-Jenkins, Bulldog Pride Group Lead, spoke to the enormity of the Pride Game being relocated to a regional venue like Ballarat.
“We’ve really been proud to work with the Western Bulldogs since the first Pride Game,” she said.
“The silver lining of VU Whitten Oval being renovated is that we get a rainbow Pride event in Ballarat.
“This will mean so much to people who grew up in Ballarat, who grew up in country Victoria…and to a lot of people who’ve moved up to country Victoria.
“We’re really excited and passionate about making sure we support local community groups to be involved in this, to make sure it’s a real community event.”
