This has been my view for many years.

A visit to Launceston to see North Ballarat Roosters play Tasmania in a VFL fixture in 2002 reinforced this in my mind.

The $6.4m first phase of the York Park (now Aurora Stadium) redevelopment had taken place – a two-level 2500 capacity grandstand.

A decade down the track and it is clear the project has carried forward plenty of momentum.

Tasmania desperately wanted AFL matches, and with unquestioned state government backing it has become a permanent fixture for the northern region of the Apple Isle.

Hawthorn will again play four games at the ground next season.

There are people in Ballarat with the same vision, but it remains a much slower work in progress.

It is difficult to assess what impact this week’s events have had on Ballarat’s AFL dream.

At the end of the day it does not really matter who plays in Ballarat.

AFL fans love their football, and a chance for Ballarat to have AFL home and away games on their doorstep – whether that involves North Melbourne, Western Bulldogs or anyone else – is what they want.

But what a messy situation it has become, with North Melbourne squeezed out of Ballarat in preference for the Western Bulldogs.

Exactly how it happened we cannot be sure, but going by the small amount that has been said publicly, the AFL is almost certainly the driving force behind getting the Bulldogs to spread its wings further west.

The AFL let out of the bag that there is a new agreement between the Western Bulldogs and the City of Ballarat – which previously had a memorandum of understanding and sponsorship agreement with the Kangaroos – after the release of the preseason NAB Challenge draw.

North Melbourne had expected to play in Ballarat again in this competition, but it immediately became clear something was happening when instead the Western Bulldogs were billed to meet Melbourne at Eureka Stadium.

AFL scheduling manager Simon Lethlean told

AFL.com.au that with North now focused on developing its fanbase in Hobart, the Bulldogs had moved to extend their western corridor growth strategy to Ballarat.

“The Bulldogs have entered a relationship with the local council in Ballarat, which is based essentially on their western corridor strategy,” Lethlean said at the NAB Challenge fixture launch.

“North Melbourne is focused on Tasmania and elsewhere, so they (the Bulldogs) asked whether we would support a game there?

“We were certainly keen to support the Dogs and the Ballarat City Council, who are starting off a new relationship.

“If you look across the natural areas of Victoria – the hot spots to develop the clubs – that western strategy certainly extends to Ballarat for the Bulldogs.

“We’re keen to help them with that strategy as it extends down there and again support councils who want to support our clubs.”

These comments certainly did not please North Melbourne, which was completed blind sided by the City of Ballarat’s shift in allegiances.

Kangaroos CEO Carl Dilena summed up their feelings, saying they were disappointed in the AFL’s shift in thinking on Ballarat.

“We understand the AFL’s thinking that the Bulldogs are the team of the west and should now be the club to work with the Ballarat region,” he said. 

“But we are disappointed because as a club we valued our relationship with the local community and its people very highly.

“Over the past six years we have worked closely with the city council and a wide range of community groups, and it is a shame we won’t get to continue to build on all of that.”

So what is the full story?

Why won’t the City of Ballarat and Western Bulldogs elaborate on their reported new relationship?

There have been no denials.

There is obviously something in place and – at the very least – Ballarat ratepayers and the community at large deserve to know what is happening.

Take away all the emotion of the Kangaroos being cast aside and this is a good news story.

One thing the North Melbourne push into Ballarat never quite received was the full backing of the AFL for home and away matches.

The support was there for everything else – community camps, practice matches, and NAB Cup and NAB Challenge matches, but was never quite anointed on its ultimate goal.

While not a lot has been stated, enough has been said to read between the lines that the AFL is backing the Western Bulldogs in Ballarat.

Just let us know.

If that is the case, it will be time for Ballarat region football fans to get excited.

• Melanie Whelan, who is the regular writer of From The Press Box, is on holidays

david.brehaut@fairfaxmedia.com.au