This move comes leading into the season in which the Bulldogs will play the first AFL premiership season match in Ballarat at a redeveloped Eureka Stadium, when they host Port Adelaide in round 22.

Players and staff will share time between Ballarat and Horsham for this summer’s AFL Community Camp in a bid to strengthen the club’s ties across the state’s west.

This will be the Bulldogs’ third consecutive AFL Community Camp in Ballarat since the club and City of Ballarat formed an official partnership.

Western Bulldogs’ Ballarat engagement manager Brett Goodes said players and staff looked forward to coming back to the region for an extended visit. 

“The camp is a great opportunity for our players and staff to interact with the Ballarat community, who we are starting to build a really solid partnership with,” Mr Goodes said.

“The whole club is excited about our (game) at Eureka Stadium, and we hope by continuing to spend more time in the region we will generate excitement leading into the match.”

Community camps, ongoing school visits and clinics are only part of the Bulldogs’ strengthening ties in the region.

The club has an official base in central Ballarat to run social and health community programs, including men’s health initiative Sons of the West, the Whitten Project promoting youth leadership, and children’s literacy program Bulldogs Read.

Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge brought the AFL premiership cup to an official city street party at Ballarat’s Town Hall less than 48 hours after captains Easton Wood and Robert Murphy held it aloft at the MCG.

Players will be return to visit schools and community groups for the camp on February 20-21, and are likely to once again hit the field for training in Ballarat.