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THE AFL has revealed the Western Bulldogs have established a new relationship with the City of Ballarat. AFL scheduling manager Simon Lethlean said the Western Bulldogs and the Ballarat City Council had come to an agreement, with full support of the AFL. It is not yet known what the agreement entails. This comes after the City of Ballarat ended North Melbourne's long-standing sponsorship this year, upsetting Kangaroos hierarchy. "The Bulldogs have entered a relationship with the local council in Ballarat, which is based essentially on their western corridor strategy," Leathlean told AFL.com.au. "North Melbourne is focused on Tasmania and elsewhere, so they (the Bulldogs) asked whether we would support a game there? "We were certainly keen to support the Dogs and the Ballarat City Council, who are starting off a new relationship. "If you look across the natural areas of Victoria – the hot spots to develop the clubs – that western strategy certainly extends to Ballarat for the Bulldogs. "We're keen to help them with that strategy as it extends down there and again support councils who want to support our clubs." North Melbourne is seething at the move, claiming it did all the groundwork in Ballarat for six years, only to be told to make way for another club. North Melbourne communications manager Heath O'Loughlin did not hide his frustration at the Kangaroos being forced out on social media: The Kangaroos had worked closely with the council for six years, with Kangaroos CEO Carl Dilena saying the club was upset to unwillingly have its ties cut with the city. "The first we heard of it was when council (City of Ballarat) notified us that they wouldn't be extending our sponsorship agreement," Dilena told The Courier on Wednesday. "To us it was surprising, we were presuming we would be continuing the relationship we had built up over the years." Dilena also revealed on Wednesday that North Melbourne would no longer hold community camps in Ballarat, under direction from the AFL. The Kangaroos had played pre-season matches in Ballarat for the last six years, but have not been granted a NAB Challenge game in the city next year, with Western Bulldogs to meet Melbourne in March. The City of Ballarat has been contacted for comment.

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