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NORTH Bendigo has welcomed six new recruits as it strives to remain among the leading contenders in the Heathcote District league next year.
The Bulldogs - who have a new coach in the returning Rob Bennett - have added Nick Waterson, dual premiership player Callum Tardrew, Beau Cross, Jesse Evans, Nathan Newlan and Matt Gray to their list that finished third this year.
Gun wingman Waterson is a five-time best and fairest winner with Maiden Gully YCW and has previously played with the Bulldogs, including in their losing 2017 grand final side to Leitchville-Gunbower.
Both Waterson and Tardrew, who played in North Bendigo's 2016 and 2019 flags, are returning to Atkins Street after playing with Nagambie in the Kyabram District league this year.
"It's great to have Nick back at the club and we think he will really complement the midfield group that we have already," Bennett said on Friday.
"He's a very skilful player and has tremendous running ability.
"And we're rapt to have Cal back with us as well. He has got himself super fit and we see him now playing a midfield role for us after playing in the back half in his two premierships."
Cross is joining the Bulldogs after spending this year with Sandhurst, but a stress fracture in his back restricted him to only three senior games for the Dragons.
"Beau was a playing assistant coach with Sandhurst this year and is a player who could play midfield or half-back for us. Again, he's really fit and skilful and having been an assistant coach he has strong leadership," Bennett said.
"He's played inter-league footy for Wimmera when he was with Horsham, so he's a really good signing for us."
As well as Waterson, Tardrew and Cross as inclusions to the Bulldogs' midfield brigade, so too is Newlan.
Newlan is a three-time winner of the Bendigo league's reserve McDonald Medal (two with Kangaroo Flat and one with South Bendigo).
"We see Nathan as playing an inside-midfield role for us and part of that on-ball group that we hope is going to bat fairly deep," Bennett said.
"It's a role that appeals to him and he's a player who just wants to play regular senior footy and prove himself and we're confident he'll be able to do that."
The signings of Evans - another former Bulldog who played in North Bendigo's losing 2014 grand final team - and Gray from Maiden Gully YCW add to the side's forward stocks.
"Matt is a proven goalkicker at Maiden Gully YCW and the good thing about him is he could also play in the ruck as well," Bennett said.
"With Matt, Jesse and Klemmy (Dylan Klemm) it gives us three tall, mobile options who can play full-forward, centre half-forward or on a flank, so we think we'll have some strong marking power to kick to."
At this stage the only confirmed departures from the Bulldogs are triple premiership player Tom Metherell, who is on the move to Cohuna, while Bailey Wingrave is headed to Dunolly.
Meanwhile, a key question heading into the 2022 season for community football will be whether a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy will be introduced.
The AFL on Thursday released its COVID-19 vaccination policy, which will require all AFL and AFLW players, as well as football program staff, to be vaccinated before the start of the two seasons across a three-stage schedule.
At this stage there is no vaccination mandate policy for community football.
"The AFL is encouraging the community and everyone in the industry to go and get vaccinated so we can once again unite as families, as friends, as work colleagues, as team-mates, as supporters and as communities," an AFL Victoria spokesperson said on Friday.
"Following the release of the AFL's COVID-19 vaccination policy for all AFL and AFLW players and football program staff, should there be any policy updates relevant to football outside of the elite level, including state leagues, talent programs and community football, these will be communicated in due course."
Outgoing AFL Central Victoria region manager Carol Cathcart has said AFLCV would "follow health advice and policies from AFL Victoria and Netball Victoria".
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