ALFREDTON Oval will become the new home for a United States import looking to make his way in Australia's national game.
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American Daniel Dahlquist has agreed to terms with Ballarat Swans and will play in the Ballarat Football League this year.
The 21-year-old from San Francisco is expected to arrive in Australia on February 16.
Swans media manager David O'Neill, who works as the media and communications co-ordinator at AFL Victoria, has helped arrange Dahlquist, who represented USA Revolution at the 2014 AFL International Cup and plays for Golden Gate Roos in the United States Australian Football League.
O'Neill said little was known about the playing ability of Dahlquist, who will travel to Ballarat with his brother Shane.
"We are hoping he enjoys his time in Ballarat, brings a bit to the club and, who knows? He might develop into a quality senior player later in the season," he said.
"We are always, at Ballarat, looking at opportunities to bring people into our club, whether they are gun footballers or good people. I mean, why not? Why let another club do it?
"It's really going to cost us nothing other than a bit of time.
"All we are doing is giving a kid who loves football a chance to play."
O'Neill said there had been good reports out of the US on Dahlquist, who plays forward for his club side. He was described as 188 centimetres and weighing 75 kilograms on the USA Revolution team chart before the 2014 AFL International Cup in Victoria last year.
Ballarat will be hoping Dahlquist can measure up to senior standards following the loss of a host of big-name players during the off-season. The departures have included grand final players Will McGregor, Nick Garner, Chris Prockter, Rex Hickman, Sam Conroy and Myles Sewell, who is expected to play the entire season in the VFL with the North Ballarat Roosters despite naming the Swans as his home club.
Ballarat will kick-start its 2015 season with a home clash against Lake Wendouree on Saturday, April 18.