QUESTIONS of acclimatising to a wet, winter-like day on Mars was not an issue with Brisbane Lions in action.
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A strong Lions' contingent was out in force with growing Bulldogs support for AFL in Ballarat with official crowd numbers weighing in at 9,039 - close to the league's 10,000-fan estimate - and most were happy to stand in misty rain on the outer without complaint.
This comes after Lions' coach Chris Fagan ran out sleeveless and in shorts with his players for a training session on Friday afternoon, earning respect from Lions fans and Ballarat alike.
"The reason I did it is obviously we come from Brisbane it's pretty warm up there and pretty cold in Ballarat. The guys made the decision to make sure they made the decision to train in t-shirts and shorts and I thought to support that I would do the same thing," Fagan told media. "It was as simple as that."
Brisbane Lions' cheersquad president Jacinta Galanos had hoped the cold taste would benefit the team. She was impressed with the strong Lions fan base already based in Ballarat the cheersquad could add voice to deep in Bulldogs' territory.
Fellow squad member Scott Chatwin has made Ballarat his adopted home town after moving here with his financee in the past year. Chatwin travels to the Gabba a couple of times each season but was rapt to be showing off AFL in his own backyard.
Six-year-old Jaleesa Cowell was at her first Ballarat game after moving here with her family from Gippsland. Jaleesa was most excited to rug-up and watch her Bulldog hero Marcus Bontempelli "because he kicks lots of goals".
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