ST KILDA will put the polish on its pre-season in an AFL community camp in Ballarat early next year.
The Saints will spend three days in the city - Monday, February 4; Tuesday, February 5; and Wednesday, February 6 - before tackling Richmond in the opening round of the NAB Cup on Friday, February 15.
St Kilda has strong ties with Ballarat.
The city was the hub of St Kilda's former country recruiting zone, producing a string of stars for the Saints in the 1970s and 1980s.
There were none bigger than legendary full forward Tony Lockett and champion full back and long-time captain Danny Frawley.
Greg Burns, Jeff Dunne, Mick Malthouse and Val Perovic were among others.
St Kilda will have training sessions in Ballarat as well as visiting schools and running an Auskick clinic. The community camp program is entering its sixth year.
Richmond was the latest club to make Ballarat its base for a community camp, undertaking a similar program in the city last year.
AFL national and international development general manager David Matthews said the camps now traditionally kicked off the AFL season.
"They give communities the opportunity to see AFL coaches and players at the highest level preparing for the season ahead.
"Clubs have the chance to have a positive impact on every part of a community," Mr Matthews said.
The 16 AFL clubs will cover each state and territory, as well as South Africa for the first time.
West Coast Eagles, Carlton, Fremantle and Collingwood will run week-long camps in South Africa, with Carlton and Fremantle playing an exhibition match in Pretoria on February 2.
CAMP LOCATIONS:
Adelaide: Barossa Valley, May 5-6
Brisbane Lions: Townsville, February 6-9
Carlton: South Africa, January 21-February 3
Collingwood: South Africa, January 20-February 6
Essendon: East Gippsland, February 4-6
Fremantle: Albany, January 30-31; South Africa, January 27-February 4
Geelong: Gold Coast, February 6-9
Hawthorn: Tasmania, February 4-8
Kangaroos: Northern Rivers/Gold Coast, February 4-7
Melbourne: Canberra, February 4-8
Port Adelaide: Whyalla, February 5-7
Richmond: Echuca, February 5-7
St Kilda: Ballarat, February 4-6
Sydney Swans: Greater Sydney, February
West Coast Eagles: South Africa, December 8-15; Narrogin, Februrary 5-6
Western Bulldogs: Darwin, February 12-15