Labor promise Western Bulldogs will play two games in Ballarat every season

[Bulldog4life]

A windswept North Ballarat stadium in the middle of Winter will not see me making the trip.

Who knows the games might be early in the year or later when the weather is not at its coldest. That seems logical to me.

[Maddog37]

Who knows the games might be early in the year or later when the weather is not at its coldest. That seems logical to me.

Afl and logic don't mix.

[Remi Moses]

Come on its not exactly Green Bay in January .
Harden up

[azabob]

Nothing more binding than a campaign promise
I'll believe it when it's in the fixture

and politicians always keep their promises.

Little faith! Last time the government came through for us.

[Bulldog4life]

Little faith! Last time the government came through for us.

The Government will be doing it for the people of Ballarat principally. We are just along for the ride.

[Twodogs]

A windswept North Ballarat stadium in the middle of Winter will not see me making the trip.

It couldn't be any colder than Waverley used to be.

[LostDoggy]

A windswept North Ballarat stadium in the middle of Winter will not see me making the trip.

Let Bonti and Stringer warm you up.

[chef]

It couldn't be any colder than Waverley used to be.

As someone who's been to both on a freezing day I would say it is.

[Twodogs]

As someone who's been to both on a freezing day I would say it is.

I tell you where it is freezing on a winter's day. Williamstown oval. Playing there on a July morning with the icy wind blowing in from the bay is a special sort of cold!

[Mofra]

I tell you where it is freezing on a winter's day. Williamstown oval. Playing there on a July morning with the icy wind blowing in from the bay is a special sort of cold!

Oh god this, windswept and freezing with wind off the water from 3 sides.

Whitten Oval is a far better VFL experience.

[bornadog]

As mentioned in the social club thread, we are aiming for two H&A games plus an NAB game from 2017.

Now its up to Dan.

[Webby]

I find the negativity around this one a bit strange. I agree its a bit of a waste of taxpayer money, but who cares? It's money coming our club's way - pretty much.

As for the road trip, it'll be fun! Where is peoples' sense of adventure? And as for doing 15 odd games a season at stale old Etihad, I welcome the chance to mix it up a bit at a place with some character. Then there's the fact that it takes about $25 fuel to get to Ballarat and back. That's a lot cheaper than a flight to Launceston or Hobart - let alone Darwin or Cairns! And as for the cold, the worst day at the footy is when the cold catches you out.... If you turn up to Ballarat in winter without and extra layer or two of clothing....... well...... you're a dill!

Finally, the drive out to VFL Park from the western suburbs used to take the best part of 90mins in the old days. And that's without getting out of the carpark! We all pine for the old days and complain about the sterility of Etihad, yet when we get an exciting opportunity like this one, we moan about the cold? Spare me! I'm pretty amped about the whole thing. I fully intend to make the town ours!

Point is, we know it'll be cold in Ballarat, so just buck up and rug up.. Simple!

[Remi Moses]

Geelong are getting their umpteenth govt funded ground upgrade.
I'm also a bit miffed by the continual negativity, as let's face it the club needs to raise its revenue.
Brian Cook on AW tonight reckons the AFL are going to buy Etihad in the next 12 months.
Those of us who attended Western oval games remember vividly 7 and 8 degree games, and wind chills of zero.

[Webby]

Yes, the wind used to whip down the WO. Generally a northerly or a norwester, but freezing nonetheless.

The AFL has clearly been posturing to buy Etihad for the past 2-3 years. The thug Vlad tried every trick in the book to soften Etihad's management up. Constant talk about a third, 'boutique' stadium at either Princes Park or Punt Road, talk of extra games in Geelong, that Geelong final etc etc. Vlad tried every desk thumping angle and created a stalemate as the Etihad management stood up to it all.

Now, as with many other things, all Gil McLachlan has to do is play the good guy, reopen negotiations and meet the Etihad camp somewhere in the middle. For all the money they've pumped into GWS and Gold Coast, they could've bought Etihad and wiped off every Victorian clubs' debt. The sooner they buy Etihad, the better.

[mighty_west]

My only beef is that I'm in Brisbane and will have to settle for watching it on tv otherwise I'd be there with bells on, whether it's belting rain or snowing, it'll be like the old days surviving the weather watching our beloved side play on a suburban ground, awesome!

For those whinging you could live in Brissy (my choice) and have to wait till round 23 next season at the Gabba for the one and only Dogs game!