IN THE cold and misty rain, Western Bulldogs star Easton Wood knelt down in front a young girl holding her autograph book.
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Together, they sang the club’s theme song.
It was a touching moment and another – albeit small – show of commitment from the AFL club that Ballarat is where it wants to be.
Wood spoke to media following the club’s training session at Wendouree Reserve, where the Bulldogs’ players put the finishing touches on another community camp in Ballarat.
It was the club’s second visit to the city for the pre-season hit-out and Wood said the club is fair dinkum about its relationship with Ballarat.
“The proof is in the pudding. This is our second year in a row coming back for the community camp, committing to playing AFL games here next year, which I'm really looking forward to,” Wood said.
“I've played a lot here through the VFL with Williamstown against North Ballarat - we had a great rivalry with them.
“I'm really familiar with this place and I enjoy coming here.”
The 26-year-old said AFL matches would “absolutely” work in Ballarat.
“It feels really intimate and close and I really enjoy that aspect of footy,” he said.
Wood is one of the Bulldogs fronting from a career-best season in the AFL system.
The defender’s breakout year was rewarded with a spot on the half-back line in the 2015 All-Australian side.
He played all bar one of the team’s matches in a season that was rewarded with a return to finals, but ended following an elimination loss to Adelaide.
Wood averaged close to 18 disposals a game, highlighted by a season-best 22 in the Dogs’ win over Melbourne in round 20.
He finished the season ranked 12th for total marks and also contested marks.
Wood said Wednesday’s session was a good one, despite the wet conditions.
“It was a bit slippery, so the boys were a bit off with their hands there, but apart from that, it's a really nice surface out there so it went quite well,” he said.
Wood said he was starting to feel the benefits of a strong pre-season preparation on the track.
“I didn't have to have any kind of surgery really at the end of the year (2015), so that's always great to be able to start day one of pre-season and be fit and healthy to really get fit over the next three or four months,” Wood said.
Wood said the sky was the limit for the playing group in 2016.
“I would certainly be disappointed if we didn't make the finals, that's for sure. That's why you play footy, that's where we are headed and I can't wait to get stuck in to the season and hopefully do that again this year,” he said.
