Hicks played in Heidelberg’s losing grand final team against Greensborough in the Northern Football League last season and will inject some much-needed poise into the midfield.

He has also played for Nightcliff and Port Douglas since leaving the Ovens and Murray club in 2013.

Harding said Hicks’ ability to win his own ball would be invaluable at John Flower Oval.

“You have to be competitive around the coalface and that’s where Josh is going to be really handy for us,” Harding said yesterday.

“We wanted to get more experience around the football and (Ben) Fixter, Jarrod (Twitt) and ‘Hicksy’ will be good helping out ‘Pratty’ (John Pratt).

“He’s been playing some good football for Heidelberg.”

Hicks was one of Heidelberg’s best during the finals series last season playing alongside former Ovens and Murray players Charles Gaylard, Chaz Sargeant, Ben Cosgriff and Ryan Stone.

He will travel from Melbourne each weekend with Wodonga teammates Zach Jones and Dylan Beattie.

Harding said the Bulldogs were keen to lure as many home-grown players back to the club as possible.

“It’s definitely something we wanted to do,” he said.

“Players like Daniel Bradshaw, Jarrod Twitt and Josh Hicks are always welcome back because it’s their home club.”

After a slow start to its recruiting, Wodonga has picked up Daniel and Matt Bradshaw, Twitt, Hicks, Dederang-Mount Beauty’s Joel Heiner, Mitta United’s Jamie Baude and Pennant Hills backman Daniel Keating.

Meanwhile, North Albury has signed talented Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes defender Hunter Lloyd.

Lloyd, a cousin of Hopper ruckman Josh, emerged as one of the Riverina league’s most exciting prospects last season as the Goannas charged into the grand final.

He did pre-season training with North Albury last year.