An ongoing connection which spans much further than just the football field.

Marcus Bontempelli has embraced nearly everything Ballarat has had to offer since the Dogs first started playing there in 2017.

While others might see the conditions as unpredictable or challenging, the Bulldogs’ skipper revealed how they evoke a sense of nostalgia for him, reminding him warmly of his days playing junior footy.

“There’s always confidence coming down this way,” Bontempelli said.

“Having played here a fair bit since 2017, it doesn’t really seem that long ago that we started to make this our second home.

“It does present a challenge for opposition teams to make the trek to Ballarat to deal with the elements—which, I think I’ve always loved about it. Particularly for me and my family, they always love the Ballarat trip.

“It’s a reminder of what football used to be in its purest sense.

“I love that for my family, they feel like it’s almost going back to when you’re a junior as a kid and it brings out those sorts of feelings and emotions to you.”

This feeling of having a ‘second home,’ as described by the captain, has been a common theme for the entire team during their two-day camp across Ballarat, Ararat, Stawell, and Horsham.

Locals came out in force to ensure the team felt welcome at every stop.

Whether during school visits, super clinics, training sessions, or even morning coffee runs, the players were met with friendly smiles wherever they went.

For Bontempelli, this is just another reason why the region has become so beloved by the playing group.

“It’s always very warm—even though the weather may not be, the welcome always is,” he said.

“Even across yesterday, there were a lot of guys out in the community and schools, the younger generation—the love that they have for the Bulldogs is quite exceptional.

“Obviously, we do a lot of work and appearances in the west of Melbourne, which is our traditional home, but to see the kids as die-hard Bulldogs supporters from a very young age is really heart-warming.

“Whether it’s a morning of games, rolling in through local coffee shops, the well wishes you get in the mornings—it’s things like that which make you feel really part of a community.”

With the club today announcing a new three-year extension to its partnership with Visit Victoria and the City of Ballarat, supporters in the region can rest assured knowing that they will be able to enjoy seeing their favourite AFL and AFLW players take to Mars Stadium for years to come.

Now 29, the star midfielder has grown to appreciate more than just his time on the field in Ballarat.

He’s embraced the surrounding community and relishes the opportunity to inspire the next generation of Bulldogs supporters.

“As players, sometimes, you feel like this might be some extra work on your calendar or your schedule. But, in its purest form, this is where everything started for us as children as kids and the impact that we can have as professionals in the league—you don’t actually understand how deep it can run,” he said.

“The appetite for the young kids to learn and find out about our game, what we do in our lives, all the things that lead us to playing football—really makes you feel good about where you are and what you’re doing and the role model opportunity you have as a player and person.”

“That’s sometimes my thing with some of the other guys is continuing to remind them how much impact you can have beyond just the football field, especially in those classrooms. You don’t realise how far it can go. For me, especially as I get older, you realise that these experiences are probably dwindling in terms of my years and my age, and it’s not going to last forever.

“It’s trying to make the most of the impact you have now, and I know a lot of our guys value that.”