In his first pre-season in charge of the Dragons, Connick has put the pressure on a somewhat new-look playing group and the players have responded strongly.

"We did five weeks of training pre-Christmas and we've been back into it for another five weeks now,'' Connick said.

"The numbers at training have been really healthy and the boys' attitudes have been really good.

"It's been a really solid pre-season and I'm very happy with the way the boys have tackled it.

"We certainly won't be lacking any fitness or miles in the legs once the season starts."

Tim Martin, Daniel Connors, Codie Price, Zeb Broadbent, Zac East, Pascale Craig, Mitch Dole, Seb Greene and Marc Lindsay headline a big list of senior players to depart the Dragons in the off-season.

The arrival list is not as long, with the Dragons content to promote youth.

"Most of our recruits are in that 22 to 24 age bracket and we've picked up a couple of kids that have come to Bendigo to play with the Pioneers,'' Connick said.

"It will be different look to what the club has had in the last couple of years, but it's very exciting to see the young talent coming through.

"We want to give the young talent some opportunities."

The Dragons' latest signing is Robert Kirby from the Murray Football League.

"He's played senior footy in the Goulburn Valley and Murray leagues and he's hardly missed a beat in the pre-season,'' Connick said of Kirby.

"He's an athletic wingman, flanker type and we're hopeful he'll be a good player for us. He's very keen to have a crack at Bendigo footy." 

A key addition for the Dragons is premiership player Lachlan Tardrew.

The Collingwood VFL player has alligned himself with the Dragons after spending last season on the books of NCFL club Birchip.

"We're hopeful of having Lachy early and, then potentially, late in the season as well.

"Lachy is giving everything he can to get as far as he can with Collingwood, but when he's not picked for Collingwood he'll play with us.

"He's expecting that he might be with us early in the season because the AFL-listed players get preference and there's generally not too many injuries at that time of the year.

"Even though he finished third in the Collingwood best and fairest last year he might not get a game early on."

The Dragons have an intra-club game at Maiden Gully next Thursday night, before playing Rochester on March 16, Echuca on March 23 and St Mary's on March 30.

"We'll be match-ready for round one,'' Connick said.

"It's a good, solid month of footy against some quality opposition.

"We think we'll be ready to go for round one."

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