Jarrod was announced as Zac Tisdale's replacement as coach in October of 2019, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic has not yet led the senior side into an official match.

Jarrod, who is based in Casterton, said he had originally signed for two years with the Bulldogs and next season would just be a continuation of that arrangement.

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"Over the COVID period, and it's the same as most clubs, we've been really restricted in what we've been able to do," he said.

"I've been really keen to give the players a good break from footy and tell them to get away from the club and just really focus on family and work in the short term.

"Over the last three or four weeks we've started making contact with the group and reconnecting and starting to build into 2021."

Jarrod is one of the key on-field recruits coming to the club, but he's not alone. Among the new signings are Daylesford premiership player Trent Nesbitt and Tom Sullivan - who make the move alongside Jarrod from Casterton-Sandford - former Geelong AFL player Josh Cowan and Scott Hughes and Ben Jones, who arrive from Wimmera league side Nhill.

"We've gone through the senior playing list already and have got verbal commitments from the same group that are going again next year, which is terrific," he said.

The Bulldogs finished in 15^th position after a disappointing 2019 campaign, which was the last of two under Tisdale.

"I know the players that I've brought in are of high quality and I know there's a lot more quality in the playing group than what's been shown the last couple of years," he said.

"We won't put a ceiling on what we can achieve but we are not going to make bold statements either.

"We have got a clear system we are looking to implement and we will do that to the best of our ability each week and the results will look after themselves from there."