Brett Goodes has been at the forefront of the Western Bulldogs' push into their new home-away-from-home in Ballarat, and he can't wait for the bounce in the town's first AFL game, between the Bulldogs and Port Adelaide.
The former Dogs player and long-time staff member has been based in Ballarat for 18 months, meaning he has lived in the town located 120 kilometres from Melbourne for about 10 years of his life.
Goodes, the brother of Sydney champion Adam Goodes, completed year 12 and played TAC Cup and VFL football in Ballarat. Now he is the Bulldogs' Ballarat engagement manager.
That's meant he's been in charge of all the school programs, player visits, Auskick clinics, local football club engagements, community initiatives and the Bulldogs' relationship with the state government and City of Ballarat in the lead-up to the match.
"Growing the club out here, its footprint and reach in Ballarat and even further out has been a great feeling," Goodes told Fairfax Media. "When the ball gets bounced I will be able to fully enjoy it. The town is excited, there is a real buzz here for the game.
"We have a real genuine community presence here, thanks to having such a long run in to the game. It was great to focus on all the community relationships without having to worry about the footy for a while, so we could just get into the town.
"This is just a taste, though. There's one game this year and then two here next year. It's only going to get more exciting but just to see how the stadium redevelopment has gone, it has been wonderful to be a part of."
Goodes said that the Bulldogs' men's mental health program, "Son's of the West", had been a great success in Ballarat, even more than it had been in Melbourne's west, where its impact had been profound.
"How it's been accepted in the community has been fantastic," he said. "That's the same for our youth leadership program and other community programs. They're leading the way in Ballarat.
"And they're going further out to Stawell, Maryborough and Mildura and Portland."
Not only is the game at Mars Stadium significant because it is the first AFL match in Ballarat to be played for premiership points, it's also a do-or-die fixture for the Bulldogs' to keep their finals hopes alive.
The Bulldogs sit ninth on the ladder, equal on 44 premiership points with West Coast (eighth) and Melbourne (seventh).
Port Adelaide, who are sixth with 48 premiership points, need to win to keep a top-four finish possible. Given the closeness of the season Port could also drop out of the eight if they don't win both of their final two games.
The 2016 premiers have regained the injured Dale Morris and Jason Johannisen for the match, which will help galvanise a defence that was last week bullied by Greater Western Sydney.
Since the bye the Bulldogs have won six of 10 games including four in a row between rounds 16 and 20. Most impressive was their dismantling of the in-form Essendon in round 19, a performance they'll need to repeat to get past the Power.
During that run and during their best periods in 2017 the Bulldogs' contested ball game has been as strong as it was in 2016, however finding that level every week has been a battle for Luke Beveridge's side.
Port Adelaide have been similarly patchy in 2017 and only just defeated Collingwood at the Adelaide Oval last week thanks to a late flourish. They were smashed by Adelaide two weeks ago in the Showdown and were poor in a loss to Melbourne at the MCG in round 18.
Those efforts should show the Bulldogs that Ken Hinkley's men are can be very vulnerable and could be picked off in Ballarat on Saturday.
