Mr Auld said Sunday’s clash at Mars Stadium was a learning curve for what was the third AFL premiership season match at the venue.

Western Bulldogs and Port Adelaide coaches both voiced their concerns of the latter stages of the match, which played out in dark conditions. Fans have also been quick to complain of trouble seeing action across the ground.

"The early game was quite good, so a game later in the season and later in the day – we'll probably try to avoid that next year," Mr Auld told afl.com.au. “We had a pretty cold and wet day in Ballarat yesterday. One of the challenges is that this is the first time we've had two games in Ballarat across the course of the season. We do need to think about when that second game is played.”

The match was played in the 3.20pm timeslot, finishing just before 6pm, with the previous two Ballarat AFL fixtures starting at 1.45pm.

The AFL transported in temporary lights in a bid to bring illumination to league standard. Existing lighting is to a Victorian Football League night standard.

City of Ballarat mayor Samantha McIntosh said the city would advocate for increased Lux lighting in any future Mars Stadium upgrades.

Cr McIntosh said the City was also investigating the malfunction of the big screen, a City of Ballarat asset, which failed to show vision at the ground on Sunday. She said while the City made every effort to rectify the issue, and got scores up without vision, it was a disappointing result – particularly after the screen had been operational in the days leading into the game.

The City will also work closely with the Bulldogs to advocate for early season games, or a game late in the season but Cr McIntosh said the City understood the difficulties of fixturing, which was a league responsibility.

Cr McIntosh said the AFL and Bulldogs were positive in how the City had presented matches and the standard of the ground. The City would continue to work with all parties for improving spectator seating and general facilities in the venue.

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley said he "couldn't see the game in the last quarter". Star player Charlie Dixon, who booted five goals in his team’s 44-point win, echoed his coach’s thoughts on poor visibility from his vantage point during the last term. 

Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge suggested an earlier start would be ideal for the venue during his post-match press conference.

RELATED COVERAGE