Not sure if this means we are still playing in Yea ???Richmond Tigers to roar into BallaratBallarat Courier
14 Feb, 2010 11:51 PMRICHMOND will continue its AFL pre-season campaign in Ballarat.
The Tigers will play in a NAB Challenge game at Eureka Stadium on March 6 after losing in the first round of the NAB Cup to Hawthorn by 73 points on Saturday night.
Their opponent will be the loser of Geelong and North Melbourne, who battle at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
The Tigers played six debutants in its loss at Aurora Stadium in Hobart, including former North Ballarat Rebel tall David Astbury who goaled with his first kick.
The return of the NAB Challenge series to Ballarat follows an extensive upgrade of the playing surface at Eureka Stadium last year.
North Melbourne has adopted the venue for two intra-club matches already this month.
North Ballarat Football Cub chief executive officer Mark Patterson said more AFL clubs were finding the travel to Ballarat and the facilities available on-par with top metropolitan grounds.
"Ballarat's proximity to Melbourne is no longer seen as an impediment and is now comparative to outer suburban facilities such as Casey fields in Cranbourne," Mr Patterson said.
"With such excellent support for the Kangaroos' first intra-club match, we are anticipating strong support from Ballarat and the Western districts."
The NAB Challenge game kicks off at 2pm is expected to attract a bumper crowd on the long weekend.
Planning for the day is well under way and is drawing on support from the district's football leagues, the City of Ballarat, Victorian Country Football League and the North Ballarat Football and Sports Club.
An estimated crowd of 2500 attended the Kangaroos first intra-club match at Eureka Stadium earlier in the month, which coincided with a weeklong community camp which included school visits and other clinics.
http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/sport/football-australian-rules/afl-richmond-tigers-to-roar-into-ballarat/1750698.aspx