Setting foot in the city on Wednesday for a whirlwind two-day community camp, the players and coaches have 40 scheduled visits to schools, football clubs and community groups.

Club chief commercial officer Nick Truelson said the camp would be the first event in an ongoing relationship with the city.

The upcoming NAB challenge where the Dogs will take on the Melbourne Demons would exhibit the city’s premier football stage, he said.

“We see it as a great opportunity to show that we are wearing a City of Ballarat-designed guernsey,” Mr Truelson said. 

“We want the locals to embrace that we are going to be here for the long term.”

Mr Truelson said the aim would be to bring home-and-away games to the city by 2017-2018.

“To play games there in front of 8000 to 10,000 will be great for the community, we are excited by what the precinct is going to look like in the next two to three years,” Mr Truelson said.

He said another focus for the future would be to build on a foundation membership in Ballarat, which is currently at 700 members.

Mr Truelson said the club had been in contact with local businesses including McDonald’s, McCains, Mars and Haymes Paints for future sponsorship prospects. 

“We have been engaged with about 10 businesses and had long conversations with City of Ballarat as well,” Mr Truelson said.

“We know how important they are with the community and we will hopefully, by the time we have started playing games, (have) been able to secure some partnerships.”

Ballarat councillor Peter Innes said the partnership with club would put the city back on the AFL stage.

“Geographically it’s a perfect fit,” Cr Innes said. “It’s a two-way partnership and a number of people will realise Ballarat is not that far away ... It will really put Ballarat on the sporting front.”

The Western Bulldogs will play the Melbourne Demons at Eureka Stadium on Saturday, March 14.

david.jeans@fairfaxmedia.com.au