The teenager, who has moved to Geelong, is training with Western Bulldogs' VFL side this summer and will push to play matches in 2022.

He has also been accepted to play with Greater Western Victoria Rebels as a 19-year-old in the NAB League next year.

"I made a few phone calls and talked to my manager (Dylan Hodge) and David Loader at the Rebels and a few people like that and Lee Fraser at Vic Country and they were all very good help," he said.

"So I'm going to be training this summer at the Western Bulldogs predominantly with their VFL program but hoping to join in with a bit of the AFL match simulation."

Ballantyne wants to develop his inside game next season and is aiming to make the Vic Country side again.

The 18-year-old may get to rub shoulders with fellow south-west export and promising young Bulldog Jamarra Ugle-Hagan this pre-season.

"I obviously know of Jamarra, I don't know him super well, I used to play a bit of basketball against him back in the day," he said.

"But hopefully if I see him at the club, I'll for sure have a chat to him and try and get to know him a bit more."

Ballantyne was impressed by his first training session with the Bulldogs last Wednesday.

"I've noticed a step up in the professionalism and just the facilities and resources you can use - it's been really good the past couple of weeks," he said.

He's yet to train with the seniors but is hoping that's not too far away.

"It's just the VFL boys, due to COVID at the moment we're not allowed to really be in the facilities at the same time but I think they're looking into the rules for that so hopefully we'll get across and do a bit of match simulation or something like that," he said.

Ballantyne is living in Geelong with his mum Kim. His older sister, Danica, also lives in the seaside city.

"I've just moved up here to try and be a bit more central to Ballarat and the Dogs at Footscray," he said.

The youngster was lauded for his commitment this year as he'd travel three hours from Portland to Ballarat for Rebels training.

"I'm just hoping by reducing that travel I can spend a bit more time focusing on training," he said.

Ballantyne, who just finished year 12 and has ambitions to study, is taking a gap year in 2022 to focus on footy in the pursuit of getting drafted.

While the promising footballer will push for Bulldogs VFL selection and play Rebels in 2022, he also harbours hope to play a few games with his beloved Portland Tigers.

"The plan is to keep Portland as my feeder club so if I can get back for two to three games for the year and help out the Tiges I'd love to do that," he said.