My wife considered buying our Bomber-following little mate another team’s top, for his child care’s football day. It’s just one way all of Ballarat has gone Bulldogs mad.

A colleague has not been able to focus all week. That’s OK though, her son’s set to play in the grand final.

There would not have been an edition of The Courier this week without a front page adorned with smiling Dogs fans in their tricolour scarves.

Metal framing has been erected at Eureka Stadium, accelerating the upgrade in the Dogs’ quest to play here for premiership points. 

Ballarat is a town proud of its Australian rules history.

Our community has found health and happiness from it, across City to Eastern ovals, inside state-conquering St Patrick’s teams and on sidelines, cheering on the sons – and daughters of 2017 – challenging in top-tier leagues.

Yet it seems the Bulldogs’ place in Saturday’s big dance has skyrocketed Ballarat’s passion.

There has always been the loyal fanbase. Visit the Royal Oak Saturdays and hear publican Karen scream at the television, cheering her boys on.

But Ballarat’s adoption of Luke Beveridge’s men was cemented with excitement this week, not only out of a beautiful sense of belief, but how our city could advance.

Imagine Eureka in 2017, cheering on the best of the best at home, without the 90-minute trip into Melbourne. What about away supporters visiting here, spending money on hotel rooms and restaurants?

Geelong, Darwin and Launceston have benefited from AFL for years. So when the Bulldogs win, so will Ballarat.

Chris O’Leary