With experienced Daniel Semmens joining him as an assistant coach, Bridges will also have former North Ballarat Rebels Hasker Dawborn and Clay Bilney as part of an emerging group of youngsters.

A key defender, Bilney has come through the East Point under-18.5s and has committed to stay with the Kangaroos full-time after spending last season with North Ballarat Rebels.

It was a breakout year for him in the TAC Cup, with Bilney playing 19 games after just two in 2015. He also managed to play three senior games with East Point.

Dawborn, who has also played most of his football in defence, has come off 17 and 15 appearances for the Rebels over the past two seasons.

He was tied to the Ballarat Swans in 2015 and Dunnstown as a junior previously, but moved his allegiance to Bungaree in the CHFL this year.

Bilney and Dawborn join a talented crop of youngsters going coming through the ranks at the Eastern Oval after this year’s BFL under-18.5 premiership.

Semmens’ appointment marks a return to the Kangaroos, where he was best and fairest runner-up in 2015.

He brings a wealth of experience after playing with several clubs, including Geelong Falcons in the TAC Cup, North Ballarat Roosters in the VFL, his home team Cobden, Newtown and Chilwell, and St Joseph’s in the Geelong league, where he played last season.

Semmens originally joined the Roosters, a move which would hoop him up with East Point, in 2011.

Meanwhile, Sunbury tall Jesse McInneny has applied for a clearance to Sunshine in the Western Regional Football League.

Sunbury has indicated McInneny, who joined the Lions this year, would not be playing football next season owing to work commitments.