THE SUCCESS of the Western Bulldogs' venture into Ballarat will see the club no longer request to play home games in Cairns.
With the weekend's clash against Port Adelaide in Ballarat a winner in every department except for the result, it bodes well for the deal struck with the regional city and the Victorian Government for the Bulldogs to play two games a year at Mars Stadium until the 2021 season.
CEO Gary Kent told AFL.com.au while the club won't be seeking a home game in far north Queensland in the future, the Bulldogs are keen to be involved as an away team.
With Gold Coast unable to use Metricon Stadium for a large period of next season due to the Commonwealth Games, the Suns could host the Bulldogs after three years of the roles being reversed.
"Having two games in Ballarat and trying to keep a home game in Cairns will be quite difficult," Kent said.
"We said to the AFL we'd like to keep playing up there but preferably as the away team from next year onwards.
"We'd love to keep supporting Cairns, we've had great support there from the locals and our fans travelling up."
While the three-year commitment to play home games in Cairns was good for the Dogs' bottom line, the move into Ballarat is proving to be another wise investment.
With the venue a 'clean stadium' for AFL games, the Dogs made a "positive" return from advertising and hospitality revenue streams, Kent said.
Last year's premiership triumph is doing wonders for reducing the club's once-crippling debt by increasing crowds, membership and sponsorship and a presence in country Victoria will give the Dogs a chance to grow even more.
If the Ballarat venture continues to thrive, Kent hopes the ground will be developed even further to accommodate a much larger crowd than the near-capacity attendance of 10,087 on the weekend.
A packed house was on hand for the first AFL home-and-away game in Ballarat. Picture: AFL Photos
"I think everyone saw what sort of demand there is, and we've got 47,000 members who all weren't able to get in the stadium, so we'd be very much supportive of expanding, and the State Government will be too eventually," Kent said.
"The City of Ballarat sponsorship is significant, as well as making that our heartland, in terms of fans and members for the club.
"The city and the people of Ballarat have really got behind us. You could see that from the red, white and blue throughout the grandstand and on the hill.
"We're really delighted with the first game, and what it's going to do in terms of commercial returns over time for us."
And while the Power spoiled the Bulldogs' house-warming party, Kent said it wouldn't be long before their new kennel would give them a home ground advantage.
He added the club will continue to lobby to play one South Australian side due to the venue being an eight-hour drive from Adelaide, and another fixture against another non-Victorian club.
"Players and football department were delighted with the facilities and playing surface," Kent said.
"It very much (did remind me of the atmosphere at the Whitten Oval), and we love playing at Etihad Stadium, and play great football there, but that small model boutique venue reminded me very much of the old days."
