THE Bendigo Football Club has landed a key pre-season signing with former Hawthorn midfielder Jordan Williams committing to the club yesterday.Originally from Moama and a product of the Bendigo Pioneers, Williams was delisted by Hawthorn at the end of last season after failing to play a senior game in two years with the club.BFC football manager Graeme Pratt said Williams’ inability to break into the Hawthorn senior side showed how strong the Hawks’ midfield group was.“We couldn’t be happier to sign Jordan,” Pratt said.“He’s professional in the way he goes about things and he has been the most impressive of anyone in our pre-season training. He’s been winning all the time-trials.“Unfortunately things didn’t work out for him at Hawthorn. AFL clubs must turnover at least six players per season and by all reports Jordan was very unlucky to be in Hawthorn’s six.“He had a good year with Box Hill in the VFL last year.“He wants another crack at AFL level and we’re very happy to give him the chance to impress at VFL level.”Williams was drafted by Hawthorn with selection 57 in the 2009 national draft after having a consistent TAC Cup season with the Bendigo Pioneers.He played seven senior games for Box Hill in 2010 and was a member of Box Hill’s VFL reserves premiership side.Williams, 20, was consistent in his 15 senior games for Box Hill last year, but it wasn’t enough to keep a place on Hawthorn’s list. “Jordan will add some depth to our midfield group, which is pretty important for us,” Pratt said.Skipper Ben Duscher, forwards Justin Maddern and Steven Stroobants, and midfielder Sam Vale have all re-signed with Bendigo.The club is also closing in on deals for new Essendon development coach Rick Ladson and last year’s Michelsen Medallist in the Bendigo Football League Wayne Schultz.“We’re leaving spots open on our list for the kids that have come out of the Pioneers and under-18 footy,’’ Pratt said. “We want to have a good look at them in intra-club practice matches before we tidy up the list.”The BFC has locked in two official practice matches in March.The club will play Geelong in Geelong on March 3 and North Ballarat in Ballarat on March 17.