The Goers are coming off just four wins and a ninth-placed finish last season, but Fitzpatrick is bullish about an improved 2021-22 campaign for Bendigo.

Joining the Goers this season is Waugh George and Bailey Goodwin is returning to the club, while Chamodh Pathirana and Nash Robinson will step up from within to become regular first XI players.

All-rounder George will provide a boost to both the Goers' batting and bowling stocks and with his capacity to build an innings could help to fill the void created by the departure of former coach Shane Koop to Strathdale-Maristians.

Joining the Goers from Goulburn Murray club Rochester and having previously had five seasons representing Northern Rivers in State Championships competition, 18-year-old George is a leg-spinner and top-order batsman.

With the addition of George the Goers will have three spinning options in their side along with Craig Pearce and gun all-rounder Kyle Humphrys.

Goodwin rejoins the Goers after playing a starring role for Kyabram Fire Brigade in last season's Goulburn Murray grand final win over Echuca.

Goodwin - who has a BDCA first XI hat-trick with Bendigo to his name - took 4-9 off 4.1 overs in the grand final victory to earn man of the match honours.

Pathirana, who is an assistant to coach Tony Ryan, played two first XI games for the Goers last season and like George has the capacity to impact with both bat and ball.

"We'll look to bowl Chamodh first change and bat him in the top order," Fitzpatrick said.

"He can swing the ball around and is very smart with the way he goes about it."

The promising Robinson was the joint winner of the BDCA's under-18 Bill Lienhop Award last season.

"He's a really exciting young talent who bats well and could potentially open the bowling as well... he has picked up a yard or two in the off-season and bowls with some reasonable wheels," Fitzpatrick said.

"We'll have plenty of options with the ball, so, hopefully we'll be able to restrict a bit better and bowl sides out. I think bowling will be our strength."

With the bat, the Goers are likely to open with Bailey George and wicket-keeper Xavier Ryan with Humphrys - who has cracked 2133 runs in his four seasons at the club - to bat at No.3.

The Goers, who haven't won a first XI flag since 1994, begin their season with an away game against Eaglehawk.

ROUND 1 - November 13

v Eaglehawk (a)

............................................

ROUND 2 - November 20

v Golden Square (h)

............................................

ROUND 3 - November 27

v Sandhurst (a)

............................................

ROUND 4 - December 4

v White Hills (h)

............................................

ROUND 5 - December 11

v Strathdale (h)

............................................

ROUND 6 - December 18

v Huntly-North Epsom (a)

............................................

ROUND 7 - January 8

v Strathfieldsaye (h)

............................................

ROUND 8 - January 15

v Kangaroo Flat (h)

............................................

ROUND 9 - January 22

v Bendigo United (a)

............................................

ROUND 10 - January 29

v Eaglehawk (h)

............................................

ROUND 11 - February 5

v Golden Square (a)

............................................

ROUND 12 - February 6

v Sandhurst (h)

............................................

ROUND 13 - February 12

v White Hills (a)

............................................

ROUND 14 - February 19

v Strathdale (a)

............................................

ROUND 15 - February 26

v Huntly-North Epsom (h)

............................................

ROUND 16 - March 5

v Strathfieldsaye (a)

............................................

ROUND 17 - March 6

v Kangaroo Flat (a)

............................................

ROUND 18 - March 12

v Bendigo United (h)

Finished - 9th

Record - 4-11-3, 0.76%

Bat - 6th Ball - 10th

............................................

Leading run-scorers:

554 - Kyle Humphrys

380 - Nathan Fitzpatrick

264 - Shane Koop

244 - Bailey George

182 - Declan Slingo

............................................

Leading wicket-takers:

17 - Dylan Johnstone

16 - Kyle Humphrys

15 - Craig Pearce

14 - Declan Slingo

8 - Nathan Fitzpatrick

............................................

Leading MVP points:

954 - Kyle Humphrys

630 - Nathan Fitzpatrick

557 - Declan Slingo

517 - Dylan Johnstone

419 - Xavier Ryan

v Bendigo United

Won: 9 Lost: 18 Tied: 1

............................................

v Eaglehawk

Won: 8 Lost: 15 Tied: 1

............................................

v Golden Square

Won: 12 Lost: 15

............................................

v Huntly-North Epsom

Won: 19 Lost: 8

............................................

v Kangaroo Flat

Won: 8 Lost: 20

............................................

v Sandhurst

Won: 11 Lost: 17

............................................

v Strathdale-Maristians

Won: 3 Lost: 29

............................................

v Strathfieldsaye

Won: 10 Lost: 12

............................................

v White Hills

Won: 16 Lost: 14 Tied: 1

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