Top Dogs on the Hop stage

THREE Western Bulldogs players will be at Hop Temple this month to celebrate the team’s upcoming AFL match in Ballarat.

Easton Wood, Clay Smith and Josh Carter will be at the venue and taking part in a panel Q&A session chatting about footy.

Hop Temple venue manager Kiren Smith, who has only been living in Australia for six months and is still getting to grips with AFL, said hosting this event was exciting.

“People can come and have food and drinks and the players are going to talk about their experiences and sign some autographs,” he said.

Mr Smith said he hopes the event can show the Bulldogs that Ballarat is behind them.

“It’s a good way to show support and to bring awareness to the upcoming match and celebrate this big game,” he said. “It’s good that something like that is coming to Ballarat.

“It’s something for the supporters of the Western Bulldogs and its great to put something on for them that they’ll enjoy.”

Mr Smith said another flow on effect from the event could be getting visitors to the city to try new places.

“I think it helps tourism in Ballarat massively by bringing people into the area and getting them to go to places that they usually wouldn’t,” he said.

“We are hidden down a laneway so a lot of people don’t even realise they we’re there so it should get people exploring.”

Set for Friday, 19 May, the event is free, however bookings are recommended via hoptemple.com.au.

In the first of two AFL games set for Ballarat this year the Bulldogs play the Adelaide Crows at Mars Stadium on Saturday, 20 May before returning in round 20 with further details to be confirmed to take on the Greater Western Sydney Giants.