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NEWBRIDGE'S Loddon Valley league premiership defence will feature Cameron Rinaldi as one of the Maroons' key focal points.
The addition of forward Rinaldi comes as the Maroons have taken a more low-key approach to their recruiting compared to 12 months ago when they welcomed a host of new inclusions to Riverside Park that helped deliver the club its first senior flag for 18 years.
"We went pretty hard with our recruiting last year, so we sat down this time and had a look at what we had already before we went and started chasing players again," Newbridge coach Brad Comer said on Thursday.
"When we looked at it we thought we already had really strong depth and have some players coming back from injury.
"We'll get Brian Mustafa back from his knee and he's really fit, Jordy Gilboy will go back into the midfield and we'll have (tall utility) Jayden Prior, who didn't play at all due to work commitments.
"We've got Edward Coulthard coming back as well and we're really happy to have signed Cam Rinaldi."
Rinaldi joins Newbridge from Kangaroo Flat. Across 11 years in the Bendigo league with both the Roos and Maryborough Rinaldi has booted 319 goals.
"Centre half-forwards are hard to come by. I've known Cam for a few years now and he's a ripping bloke and been a proven player in the Bendigo league for a long time now," Comer said.
Among the departures from the Maroons' premiership team of last year are two of their prime-mover on-ballers in Tommy Horne and Nathan Bacon, who both finished top four in the 2018 Harding Medal.
Horne has signed with Hepburn and Bacon is returning to Lockington-Bamawm United.
Comer is also still unsure of the intentions of the Maroons' two best players in the grand final win over Mitiamo - key defender Alex Code, who won the AFL Victoria best-on-ground medal, and star forward Sam Mildren, who bagged five goals in a game where just 15 were kicked by both sides.
"And we've thrown a bit of a line out to Rhys Ford… he told me he was retiring after last year, so we'll see what happens there," Comer said.
"To be honest, I'm probably more excited about this year than last year, which is probably sounding a bit of a funny thing to say.
To be honest, I'm probably more excited about this year than last year
- Brad Comer - Newbridge coach
"As a whole group we're probably as fit as we've been for a long time, the hunger is still definitely there after last year and we're just happy to go about our business and let our footy do the talking."
Meanwhile, the Maroons' build-up to their round one game against Calivil United will include being part of a tribute day for Jarrod Parry.
Parry, who died earlier this year, joined Newbridge last season having previously played all his football at Lalor.
The tribute day will be held at Lalor on Saturday, March 23, with the Maroons to play the Lalor Legends.
The Maroons will also play Carisbrook in a practice match on Saturday, March 30, in what's a battle of two reigning premiers.
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