Murphy, who missed the team’s premiership triumph last year after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in round three, is expected to be part of the club’s community camp visit to the city on Monday and Tuesday.

The 34-year-old has been named to make his return to the Bulldogs side for Saturday’s AFL pre-season clash with Melbourne.

Only part of the Western Bulldogs squad will be in Ballarat next week, with the club also sending players and coaches to Horsham for the two-day stint.

The club will hold an open training session at Eureka Stadium from 10am on Monday, with spectators encouraged to attend. Here, they will get the chance to get up close to the 2016 premiership cup.

Brett Goodes, the club’s Ballarat engagement manager, said Murphy is likely to join in on the trip to Ballarat.

“Bob is in good spirits. I saw him last Monday and I think he is chewing at the bit to get back out there,” Goodes said.

“I think he is in a really positive place and hopefully he is good to go and start playing.”

Western Bulldogs premiership players Matthew Boyd, Luke Dahlhaus and Lachie Hunter are among the other players expected to be part of the Ballarat visit.

A range of activities have been planned for the camp, with school and football club trips set for Monday followed by a closed training session and community visits on Tuesday.

Goodes said it is great that the AFL clubs are now being sent for camps in key regions of their make-up.

“We are not just being sent anywhere and everywhere, players are actually getting sent now to our regions where we’ve got strong connections and got relationships,” he said.

“Especially Ballarat, we are playing a home game here this year.”

The Western Bulldogs will take on Port Adelaide in the first AFL game for premiership points in Ballarat this season. The game has been fixtured for round 22 on Saturday, August 19 at Eureka Stadium.