Retired Bulldog Brett Goodes has been the club’s Ballarat engagement manager for almost a year, working on strengthening community ties and club-led social development programs.

Goodes said the excited and proud feedback from long-time fans and new supporters has been amazing in the AFL finals series – especially with the Bulldogs set to bring their game in-season to Ballarat’s Eureka Stadium next year.

This is the Bulldogs third VFL/AFL grand final appearance in history, and first in 55 years. They have captured one sole premiership: 1954.

“You hear their stories and they are so grateful. I know the players and how excited they are this week – this is why we do what we do and why you play football,” Goodes said.

Goodes, a dual North Ballarat Roosters’ premiership player, looked forward to watching the Bulldogs play an AFL match for premiership points on his old turf.

Eureka Stadium has dramatically changed since Goodes arrived at North Ballarat – before the cricket pitch was removed, two ground resurface works ago.

“A lot of people ask me what it’s like to have played on the MCG or Etihad but this will be a good opportunity for a lot of Ballarat players to experience that as well,” Goodes said. “It’ll be good to watch footy at with VFL, TAC Cup and local footy with North City. Local grand finals could be played here.

“For them (the Bulldogs) to play on this stadium will be fantastic.”

The Bulldogs have already made a strong impact on the community with 76 graduates from men’s health initiative Sons of the West in Sebastopol and Wendouree. In comparison, the Bulldogs’ five Melbourne-based Sons of the West programs had a combined 94 graduates. Sebastopol and Wendouree graduates continue to socialise and meet up for exercise.

The Bulldogs also launched the Whitten Project for 15 emerging youth leaders and had about 40 pupils from four primary schools write more than 300 book reviews from literacy program Bulldogs Read.

Goodes said Ballarat was definitely a key part of the Bulldogs journey.