While the Bulldogs’ Australia Post Community Camp in Ballarat this week allowed the Club to get well acquainted with its new second home, it came with on-field benefits too.

Thursday’s training session at Eureka Stadium gave the playing group a chance to reacquaint themselves with the North Ballarat oval ahead of their second NAB Challenge match against Melbourne on Saturday week.

The senior side hasn’t played at a country Victoria venue since their 2012 NAB Challenge match against North Melbourne.

"The value of the training (here) is hugely important, we have been here only a year or two ago, but we’re young,” Senior Assistant Coach Brett Montgomery told media on Thursday.

“We’ve got 11 or 12 new players into the place, it’s a great opportunity to have a community camp here.”

Montgomery also noted the importance of the two-day community camp off the field.

“As we tell our players, and they’re acutely aware, this is part of our backyard and we’re actually trying to forge a really serious relationship and partnership up here,” Montgomery said.

“I think it’s important for our guys to get out here, and experience the community, and they’ll do that again today.”

After a 22-point victory against Richmond at Victoria University Whitten Oval, the Bulldogs will look to maximize their match practice ahead of the home and away season.

Implementing the game style of new coach Luke Beveridge under match conditions has been a key focus.

“Obviously a fair bit of change has been happening over the summer and the off season, but we’ve settled in really well,” Bulldogs midfielder Mitch Wallis said.

“Bevo’s great, he’s adapting to the group. We’ve got a young group who are responding really well to him.

“Obviously our game style is changing a bit, which will be shown in the next couple of weeks and early on in the season.”

Wallis says he’s been quick to forge a working relationship with the new senior coach, indicating that how the side plays in the coming weeks will be a good yardstick in measuring how the group has adapted to Beveridge’s philosophies over the preseason.

“I get along with him really well, his style of coaching a lot of the boys are coping really well with it. Obviously the proof is in the pudding so when games come around we’ll see how well we have stuck to it,” Wallis said.

“He’s praised anyone that can bring their strengths to the fore, we’ve got (a lot) of young kids with a lot of talent so it’s really suited their style any mine as well.”