BALLARAT has been confirmed as Western Bulldogs territory with the announcement that North Melbourne will shift its community camp from the Victorian regional centre after six years.

 

The AFL announced the venues and dates for this pre-season's Australia Post AFL Community Camps on Tuesday, with the Bulldogs set to take over from North in Ballarat and the Roos to visit Hobart and Werribee instead.

 

This follows the recent news that the Bulldogs will play a NAB Challenge game at Ballarat's Eureka Stadium in March and plans to play AFL games at the venue from 2017 if Labor wins this month's state election.

 

St Kilda will again hold a community camp in New Zealand, with half of its players set to visit Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch in December, and the other half set to stay at home and tour the Mornington Peninsula.

 

Hawthorn will again journey to Tasmania, with their players set to visit Launceston, Hobart, Swansea and Queenstown ahead of the Hawks' NAB Challenge match against Collingwood at Aurora Stadium in late February.

 

Three other community camps will be held in conjunction with NAB Challenge games, with Adelaide set to host North Melbourne ahead of its camp in Port Lincoln, Collingwood to host Carlton in Bendigo, and Gold Coast to host Geelong in Townsville.

 

AFL people customer and community manager Dorothy Hisgrove said the community camps were about players giving back to the fans.

 

"The Australia Post AFL Community Camps are a significant event in the AFL pre-season calendar as they provide fans across Australia with an opportunity to meet and engage with their favourite players and clubs," Hisgrove said.

 

"Fans are the most important people in our game and these camps are a terrific chance for AFL players to acknowledge their loyalty and support first-hand."

 

Australia Post community relations manager Andrea Pearman said the long-time AFL sponsor was proud to help take the game to regional communities.

 

"The role of sport in building thriving, healthy and connected communities cannot be underestimated," Ms Pearman said.

 

"It brings everyone together in a common interest. Whether they are playing, watching or supporting sport, all are welcome."