Clarke has captained Coronet City and Lucas, and also spent time with the Bulls late last season.

The all-rounder was hoping to play the entire season with Brown Hill last year, but a knee injury sustained playing soccer meant he was limited to one game in the thirds, where he took 5-26.

In his most recent full season with Coronet City, Clarke averaged 29 with the bat in the firsts and bowled handy overs with the ball.

Clarke will provide great experience to what will again be a youthful Brown Hill line-up, skipper Ryan Knowles was excited to have him on board.

“It’s exciting to get him on board...he’ll be great for the group,” Knowles said.

Knowles said Clarke was the only inclusion to the first XI, with another year of development on the cards for the Bulls.

The core group of youngsters have largely remained, Fraser Hunt a possible absentee as he tries his luck in Geelong.

Knowles and Clarke will be joined by fellow leaders Jason Knowles and Paul White as the experienced quartet of the side.

Brown Hill did not win a game last season, finishing on the bottom of the ladder.

Knowles said consistency of performance was the major factor in the winless season.

“We knew it was going to be a bit of a process. A few of them just need a couple of seasons in the firsts.

“With a young group, I think the new format makes it a bit more exciting.

“We just want to improve on last year’s efforts.

“If we can be more consistent from week to week. Last year we’d bat really well one week then not so much for the next two. So it’s just about finding that consistency, if we can do that I think we’ll be alright.”

Brown Hill will face fellow inexperienced outfit Ballarat-Redan in round one on October 6.