BRIDGEWATER is hoping two years of development into its younger brigade coupled with the return of several experienced players who were integral in the club's dynasty of success can have the Mean Machine back contending again this year.

Having won seven flags in a row during a run of eight-straight grand finals between 2010 and 2017, the Mean Machine missed the finals in 2018 and 2019, finishing seventh with 7-9 records both seasons.

However, the Mean Machine has put together a formidable list in 2021 that has it being touted as one of the Loddon Valley league's most threatening sides.

Since last playing in 2019, the Mean Machine has added new co-coach Jayden Donaldson, Tom Dowd, Caillum Brady and Josh Martyn from Strathfieldsaye, Boden Alexander, Lloyd Needs, Jarrod Fitzpatrick and Mychael Baker, plus the quartet of Zeb Broadbent, Andrew Collins, Marc Lindsay and Alex Pollock.

Former Carlton and Richmond AFL player Collins and Lindsay are both premiership coaches with the Mean Machine and Broadbent a premiership captain with the club, while Pollock is also a premiership player with Bridgewater.

Xavier Henderson is also a former Bridgewater player who has returned this year, while the only outs from the 2019 list are Sam Banko and Peter Coghlan.

"We're excited by the list we've been able to put together, but it doesn't mean much unless it translates to chemistry and wins out on the field," said Donaldson, who is co-coaching the Mean Machine with Dale Cameron.

"We feel we've recruited well and we're really looking forward to seeing the confidence and improvement out of the players who were already there like Joey Mayes and Alex Powell.

"We think we've been able to cover each third of the ground with what we've brought in, as well as get some experience in to help out our younger players.

"In particular, we've probably got a whole new midfield group in with the exception of Liam Jacques, which we're really excited by."

A dual premiership player with Strathfieldsaye, Dowd is out of retirement to pull the boots on again for the Mean Machine.

"Tommy is probably the fittest bloke at the club; he's one of those blokes who keeps himself in really good nick," Donaldson said.

"It's amazing as soon as the balls come out in match simulation how many touches he racks up."

Alex Powell (54) and seven-time premiership player Darren Clutton (36) were the Mean Machine's key avenues to goal in 2019.

This year the Mean Machine will have a more potent forward line, with the addition of Martyn plus the classy Collins, who can have a major impact on a game through the middle or inside 50.

"Martyn can play deep forward or higher up the ground and Collins was the league's leading goalkicker last time he played in the league," Donaldson said.

"So the ability to be able to play him forward and give him some space is going to be a great attribute for us.

"We've got ambitions of playing finals and wanting to go deep... a critical part of that is finishing in the top three and that's what we'll be aiming to do."

Round 1 - Bye

Round 2 - v BL-Serpentine (a)

Round 3 - v Inglewood (h)

Round 4 - v Newbridge (a)

Round 5 - v Calivil United (h)

Round 6 - v Marong (a)

Round 7 - v Maiden Gully YCW (h)

Round 8 - v Pyramid Hill (a)

Round 9 - v Mitiamo (h)

Round 10 - Bye

Round 11 - v BL-Serpentine (h)

Round 12 - v Inglewood (a)

Round 13 - v Newbridge (h)

Round 14 - v Calivil United (a)

Round 15 - v Marong (h)

Round 16 - v Maiden Gully YCW (a)

Round 17 - v Pyramid Hill (h)

Round 18 - v Mitiamo (a)

MEANWHILE, the return of local football-netball competitions this year will start with crowds being capped at 1000.

AFL Victoria has released an updated return to training and games protocols, which states a "patron cap of 1000" with group limits of 100 people at the venue.

However, where it's expected that crowd sizes will be over the 1000 patron cap, leagues will be able to apply for an increased figure through the Victorian Government's Public Events Framework.

The protocols continue to have strict conditions on the public entering changerooms:

* Limit access to changerooms only for players and essential staff only as required (ie coach, team manager, trainers - no parents or spectators) with relevant density quotients met.

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