For much of Bennett's previous coaching stint at Atkins Street the Bulldogs were the hunted.

While the Bulldogs very much remain in the premiership window, Bennett is aware his side needs to improve in 2022 if it's to match it with the likes of Lockington-Bamawm United, Mt Pleasant and Colbinabbin.

"The league is getting stronger and stronger each year,'' Bennett said.

"We've been lucky enough to be up at the top for a period of time and it's a really good challenge for our guys to stay where we're at and to improve.

"If the whole league is improving, then we need to improve as well."

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The Bulldogs had their first training session for 2022 at Beischer Park on Wednesday night.

"The players have come back in the same sort of condition they were before the Christmas break, which is a credit to them,'' two-time premiership coach Bennett said.

"We had 10 sessions before Christmas and we were averaging in the mid-30s in terms of numbers.

"It was good to see similar numbers the first night back even though we had a few apologies with people away on holidays.

"The pre-Christmas period was about getting run in the legs and some touches of the footy whereas post-Christmas there's a little bit of building that fitness base, but also working on how we want to play footy."

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The Bulldogs have added some class and pace to their midfield/forward rotations with the signing of Hakeem Johnson.

The former Kangaroo Flat senior player returns to his junior club to play alongside his cousin Manny Thalasinos.

"Hakeem played his juniors at North and he was a player we identified when I took over that we'd like to get back to the club along with some other former North players that are elsewhere,'' Bennett said.

"He did all the pre-Christmas training with us and then made his decision. Family was a driving force for his decision.

"He's been fantastic doing all the work. In the match simulation stuff he's been really exciting with the way he takes the game on and then he finishes by foot really well.

"We told him that we see him playing in our midfield and we know he can go forward and hit the scoreboard.

"We want to have depth and versatility in our mids and forwards and he (Johnson) is one of them."

Key forward Dylan Klemm has had an interrupted cricket season because of a back injury.

Bennett was confident Klemm would be fit for the start of the footy season.

Tom Metherell (Cohuna), Bailey Wingrave (Dunolly) and Harry O'Meara (Melbourne) - at this stage - are the major departures for the Bulldogs.

Bennett confirmed the Dogs were still in the market for more recruits.

North Bendigo starts its 2022 season away to Colbinabbin on Saturday, April 9. The Bulldogs' first home game is against Elmore in round two on Saturday, April 16.

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