The Western Bulldogs will be looking to build ‘Fortress Ballarat’, when they play their first game for premiership points in the city on August 19, against Port Adelaide.
The Club entered a partnership with the State Government and City of Ballarat to bring AFL football to the region — by offering a suite of community programs to enhance community well-being and engagement, and by playing matches for premiership points at Eureka Stadium from 2017 — a plan that will come to life in Round 22, this season when the Power come to town.
Bulldogs Coaching Performance Manager Chris Maple said the Club is planning on making the newly redeveloped stadium a tough place to visit for opponents.
“We’re looking forward to coming up here to play our games and making it a Bulldog fortress, Maple told reporters on Monday during the Club’s Australia Post AFL Community Camp visit.
“We know the community is behind us and we’re putting a lot into making that happen, [and] hopefully we have a win in August.”
Maple, a Ballarat native and the 2014 Footscray Bulldogs premiership coach, said that the local community are welcoming the Dogs’ embrace of the region.
“Being from the local community, they are on board and want us to do well and they’re really excited to have AFL footy coming to their town.
For more information about the Club’s relationship with Ballarat, click HERE.
