FIVE players who all have experience in the Bendigo Football League have signed on with Bridgewater in the Mean Machine's quest to win a sixth flag in a row next year.
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Jared Keely, Marty Shadbolt, Alex Galea, Ben Galea and Tom Broadbent are all joining the Mean Machine in the Loddon Valley Football League next year.
Keely, Shadbolt and the Galea brothers have all played in the BFL with South Bendigo, while Broadbent from Sandhurst was this year's George Symons medallist as the BFL's under-18 best and fairest.
Ben Galea is a triple premiership-player with Bridgewater returning to the club. He played in the Mean Machine's 2010, 2011 and 2012 flags.
Midfielder Keely was overseas this season, goalsneak Alex Galea played with White Hills, while versatile key-position player Shadbolt has coached Leitchville-Gunbower the past two years.
"Probably the most pleasing thing with those boys is they all come with Bendigo league experience," Bridgewater coach Andy Collins said on Monday.
"They are all very keen to play for our club and will fit in well with our group.
"I'm very comfortable with where our list is at. We're still waiting on one player who will make up his mind in January, but we're very happy with where we're at."
Mark Lindsay has taken on an assistant coaching role with the Mean Machine.
The Mean Machine has three confirmed departures from the team that belted Bears Lagoon-Serpentne by 96 points in the grand final to win its fifth flag in a row.
The trio of dual Harding medallist Adam Parry, Zac East and ex-Bendigo Gold player Alexander Pollock have all joined Sandhurst.
Bridgewater begins its premiership defence next year away against YCW, before hosting the Bears in round two in the grand final rematch.
