East Point hopes gun recruits will create healthy competition for spots ahead of 2021 BFNL season

Waubra premiership onballer James Lukich headlines a stacked list of signings that includes gun Ararat brothers Jack and Harry Ganley and Kyabram premiership player Aaron Hayes.

All join the Roos with reputations as dominant midfielders, creating a selection headache for Bridges - not that the two-time premiership coach was too concerned.

"It's going to be pretty competitive. I just think that if you can add some depth there and continue to drive and push each other forward, expectations start to rise, and standards continue to lift," he said.

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Lukich arrives having finished three votes short of the CHFL's best-and-fairest honour in 2019, despite missing the back half of the home-and-away season through injury.

He returned in time for finals and delivered a best-on-ground performance in Waubra's grand final win.

"The way he approaches his training, himself off the field, and his running is elite," Bridges said.

"We're really looking forward to what he's going to bring and what he's already brought (has been great)."

Jack and Harry Ganley both won best-and-fairests at Ararat and the former departs as the club's leading goalkicker of the past decade.

Hayes won successive flags with Kyabram in 2016, 2017 and joined the Roos after moving to Ballarat with his partner Emma Ryan, a highly esteemed netballer in her own right.

Bridges said the club sought to recruit players who contributed off the field as well as on the track.

"We went out, and we had a couple of conversations with some players who we thought were going to be able to add a bit to the dynamic of the group, but then also there needs to be a cultural fit," he said.

"I would describe (the East Point culture) as one that's inclusive.

"There are a number of keywords that we look at, and I think when you're in the four walls, there are some things that we do that are non-negotiables.

"The number one thing is that (the culture) is player-driven. I've always believed that the follower picks the leader. It's really good, even at this level, to have leaders that have ownership and have that sense of empowerment to drive the culture that they want."

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