Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’d notice the 2019 AFL season has finally arrived, and along with it an arduous six months of studded boots, hip and shoulders, wild goal celebrations, cold froffies, meat pies, and some serious SuperCoach leagues.
While it’s hard to rival showtime at the ‘G, regional football fans are in for a treat this year as the Western Bulldogs expand the Club’s community beyond the suburban fringe of Melbourne’s West to include Ballarat and Western Victoria once again.
In partnership with the City of Ballarat, the Western Bulldogs have committed to bringing two AFL Premiership games to the region in 2019. This will be the third year in a row since AFL history was made in 2017 when Ballarat hosted the state’s first AFL game for premiership points outside the footy heartland of Melbourne and Geelong.
After their first game against the Brisbane Lions back in Round 8 on Saturday, May 11 at 1.45pm, The Doggies will now host Crows for Round 23 on Sunday, August 25 at Mars Stadium. Kick-off is at 1.10pm.
It will be the first time Brisbane and Adelaide have travelled to Ballarat for an official AFL match, with the Bulldogs having played Port Adelaide (twice) and the Gold Coast Suns in their previous three encounters at Mars Stadium. The dogs also travelled to Ballarat for the JLT Community Series against St Kilda on Sunday 10 March earlier this year.
It’s good news for Ballarat, not only for the footy fans but for the local businesses too in terms of economic benefits. Each game played at Mars Stadium has a total estimated economic benefit of $2.2 million which is forecasted to triple throughout the four-year partnership with a minimum of two AFL games and one pre-season game to be played each year.
“We’re excited to continue our partnership with the City of Ballarat and the State Government by hosting two AFL premiership season games in Ballarat in 2019,” said Bulldogs’ CEO Ameet Bains. “We’ve worked closely with the AFL during their fixture process to ensure our games at Mars Stadium in 2019 are scheduled to best maximise the opportunity for Bulldogs fans and the Ballarat community to enjoy the spectacle.”
Even if you’re not a Doggies supporter, nothing beats a day out at the footy with meat pies, hot chips and plastic cups of beer as you don the colours of either side!
Go doggies!
Tickets are available at westernbulldogs.com.au/ballarat
