The fun never stops for football coaches and administrators as they spend the summer trying to land the players who can take their club to the next level in 2022.
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In a nod to the region's strength, a host of former AFL and state league players are headed for the Ballarat and Central Highlands football leagues next year.
Here are some of the biggest off-season recruits so far:
BRETT BEWLEY
Darley
The 26-year-old re-joins his junior club straight from the AFL. Bewley played 25 games across three seasons with Fremantle and will have an immediate impact on the BFNL. The midfielder's status as a one-point player also helps the Devils on their pursuit of other top-end recruits.
DANIEL JONES
Beaufort
Jones has called time on a successful stint with North Ballarat that saw him win a club best-and-fairest and two BFNL premierships. At the Crows he'll play under former teammates Brendan Howard and Mitch Jenkins.
REX HICKMAN
Bacchus Marsh
The key forward is no stranger to the BFNL having played for Melton South and Ballarat, kicking 33 goals across 28 games in the competition. From Ballarat he joined Melton Centrals, where his performances earned him selection for Vic Metro. Hickman joins from the Mallee Eagles.
NICK RODDA
Darley
A WAFL premiership player and proven VFL force, Rodda will play for the Devils full-time next year. The 27-year-old kicked 70 goals in his 41 VFL games and played in Williamstown's three-point grand final loss in 2019.
JOEL OTTAVI
Buninyong
The East Point premiership player has nominated Buninyong as his home club for 2022. The forward is still determined to assert himself in the VFL with Williamstown, though differences in the fixture will likely see Ottavi return to his junior club for at least a couple of games.
MITCH BANNER
Hepburn
The former Port Adelaide player has taken on his first senior coaching role with the Burras. Banner crosses from Darley, where he was the club's leading goalkicker last season. The 31-year-old won't play every game next year but will still be a big influence.
JACKSON MERRETT
East Point
The 56-game Essendon player has landed at Eastern Oval after returning to Victoria. Merrett most recently played for the Peel Thunder, where he won the club best-and-fairest in 2020 and was named in the WAFL team of the year.
DYLAN JONES
Melton South
Rucks are rare to find in country footy and Melton South has landed a big one in Jones. The 200cm big man is a premiership player with St Kevin's and Williamstown CYMS in the VAFA and was formerly on Werribee's VFL list.
BILLY GRIFFITHS
Gordon
In Griffiths, Gordon has picked up a proven small-forward who's been a BFNL mainstay for the past four seasons. The Bacchus Marsh premiership player, still in his early 20s, joins the Eagles alongside brother Sam Griffiths, a former Western Jet, and Cobras teammate Joshua Calvitto.
MARK ORR
Melton
The former VFL forward returns to the Bloods after a stint in New Zealand. Orr finished second in the club's best and fairest in 2019 and will add welcome size to a Melton outfit looking to improve on last season's second-place finish.
DAMON FOLKES
Learmonth
Folkes arrives from Great Western where won the club best-and-fairest and finished third in the Mininera and District Football League best-and-fairest count. The big-bodied forward was the league's leading goalkicker last season, bagging 70 majors - some 20 more than his closest rival.
LINCOLN BARNES
Redan
The Waubra premiership player is on his way back to the BFNL. While his class on the field is known, Barnes will add welcome experience to a young group. A personal trainer by trade, Barnes will also help oversee the Lions' strength and conditioning program.
LACHLAN THORNTON
Bungaree
Thornton crosses from East Point with an impressive resume. The Demons' recruit has won two BFNL junior best-and-fairest awards and two Robert Allan Medals with Mt Clear, back-to-back under 18.5 premierships with the Roos, and played in his former club's inaugural premiership in 2018.
KANE WHITE
Skipton
White is set to add immediate class and flexibility to the Emus' midfield group. He crosses from Bacchus Marsh, who he helped to an inaugural premiership in 2016.
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