BALLARAT is awaiting an expected decision by the AFL to play this weekend's GWS Giants versus Gold Coast Suns match on Sunday afternoon at Mars Stadium.
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The AFL is expected to make a call either later tonight or early tomorrow morning about locking in the game for Ballarat.
AFL sources who The Courier spoke to suggest the match will be played in regional Victoria with either Geelong - which hosted two games at the weekend - or Ballarat the most likely candidates.
Metropolitan media is reporting that the match will be played in Ballarat, while the day and time is yet to be confirmed, it is likely to be Sunday in the early timeslot of 1.30pm.
It is understood that Mars Stadium is on stand-by for the game, which would be just Ballarat's second AFL game in two years having hosted the Western Bulldogs versus Brisbane game earlier in the season.
The City of Ballarat also remains hopeful of attracting at least one other contest on top of its scheduled round 19 match between the Western Bulldogs and Adelaide.
Concerns remain about the Queensland 'red zone' which includes Brisbane, with St Kilda footballers likely to face 14 days quarantine should they play at the Gabba this weekend, unless the 'red zone' is changed to orange or green.
If it remains a no-go zone for Victorians over the next two weeks, the City of Ballarat holds out hopes that the following week's Gold Coast versus Western Bulldogs match, scheduled for Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast, could also be played in Ballarat, giving the Bulldogs back-to-back games in the city.
The AFL is also keen to extend the 25,000 crowd caps at venues across Victoria this weekend with matches including Carlton versus Geelong at the MCG, Essendon versus Adelaide at Marvel Stadium and Richmond versus Collingwood all expected to attract big crowds if allowed.
