The first cricket match at the Eastern Oval was held in 1853, and the first Australian Rules football match played on the ground was in 1866. W.G. Grace visited the Eastern Oval in the 1870s considering it the most English ground in Australia. The W.G. Grace Tree is located at the end of the historic grandstand. Former Australian Cricket captain Ricky Ponting has a tree planted at the oval also. Image of the Eastern Oval taken from the Ballarat Railway Station.eastern oval, eastern oval ballarat, cricket, australian rules football, w.g. grace tree, ricky ponting tree