The Bulldogs last year bowed out in the first week of the finals when beaten by White Hills by 11 points in the elimination final.

North Bendigo has maintained the majority of its list from last year, and added some key position strength that Lock hopes can propel the club towards the double chance.

“The recruiting has been going well so far. We’ve added quite a few guys and haven’t lost too many,” Lock said yesterday.

“Our big Achilles heel last year was lacking a bit of height and we were probably a bit small over the ground.”

Among the recruits to the Bulldogs who will provide the side with some size are Matthew Trist from Tongala, Daniel Reid, who won Inglewood’s best and fairest last year, and Michael Spooner from Keilor.

“All those guys are capable of playing key roles for us, which we see as a positive,” Lock said.

Trist is likely to share the Bulldogs’ ruck duties with reigning Cheatley medallist Josh Gitsham.

While the Bulldogs have boosted their stocks of talls, they have also added some pace with Cody Bravo and Tom Metherell, who have both played senior football for Eaglehawk in the Bendigo Football League.

Bravo played with White Hills last year, and ironically, was one of the key players in the Demons’ elimination final win over the Bulldogs.

“Cody is a good little player who I played a fair bit with at Eaglehawk,” said Lock, who won’t play his first game until round seven because of suspension.

“He’s a hard match-up and he really cut us up in that final last year when he got White Hills going, so we’re pretty happy to have him.

“And Tommy is a really good get for us. He has been going well in the pre-season and we’re expecting good things from him.”

The club has also lured former best and fairest winner Rob Morris back to Atkins Street.

“It’s looking like a very even season, but with not losing anyone from last year and adding some good players, it should hold us in good stead,” Lock said.