AFL GAME day is almost here! We want to make sure Ballarat is a completely dog-friendly city when Western Bulldogs arrive for the first battle for premiership points in this city on August 19.
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So, we're encouraging you all to get to know the players and find a favourite to cheer in The Courier’s Adopt A Dog campaign.
In the next few weeks leading up to the match, we will be canvassing our community to help ensure everyone can find a Bulldog they can admire.
First-up, we have challenged the team of our youth magazine SHOUT, who have been focusing on all things superheroes, to match them with a Bulldog who possesses their dream super-power.
Stay tuned for ways you can also get involved with some exciting giveaways The Courier has planned.
Western Bulldogs midfielder Josh Dunkley was one of the first players to check out Eureka Stadium’s new grandstand from the playing arena when in town on Friday for a series of special visits.
Dunkley said the transformation since the playing group was last in Ballarat, for an AFL community camp in February, was amazing.
“I’m told the capacity is 11,000 but straightaway out here, you realise this place being packed will probably sound more like being 50,000,” Dunkley said.
“Ever since the start of the year the boys have been really excited to have a game in Ballarat, especially guys like Roughie (Jordan Roughead) – to come home and play AFL football is something special.”
Western Bulldogs Ballarat engagement manager Brett Goodes said plans for the game were coming along well and the club was still very much busy with community programs.
But the club was also working hard to try and build strong support. Goodes said it would be incredible if Ballarat crowds could channel a little of the what Geelong Cats fans served up for hometown games.
“We want the game to activate the whole town – how good would it be if Ballarat could be like that,” Goodes said. “It certainly helps that we won the grand final...Everyone here really loves their footy and we want to make sure there’s a big Ballarat contingent at the game.