Wodonga Raiders have confirmed reigning Morris medallist Jarrod Hodgkin will again coach the Ovens and Murray Football League club next year.
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There's also an option for 2022 as the club moves quickly to shore up its playing list.
"Jarrod has a great rapport with the players and the signing of the Neagle boys last year was solely because of his discussions," president Mark Johnston said.
"We always knew that once it was questionable whether we played this year because of COVID, we had to make sure our plans were in place for next year and we have already signed 19 of our senior group."
The O and M senior season was officially cancelled on June 25, due largely to the lack of crowds allowed to attend and players travelling from Melbourne, following the city's spike of cases.
Raiders had finished fifth in Hodgkin's inaugural season as coach, despite losing a host of players over the previous off-season, including three-time best and fairest Jydon Neagle and younger siblings Matt and Jaxon to SANFL club Central District.
Jydon and Jaxon had returned to Raiders, along with another former player in Steve Jolliffe, while the club had also snared a handful of Culcairn players, including Hume League Azzi Medal runner-up Jye Shields.
"There was a bit of excitement going into this year with some of the recruits and the development of our younger players and we didn't want to waste too much time once the season was called off and moved on to next year and re-signed the majority of our list pretty quickly," Hodgkin said.
The midfielder's effort in winning the Morris Medal as a first-year coach can't be underestimated because, traditionally, it's extremely difficult to take your game to a new level while balancing the new responsibilities.
"Ever since he came to the club, he was an assistant to 'Crezza' (former coach Daryn Cresswell) the first year and obviously he's been a super player, winning the Morris Medal, but he's just a great leader as well, not selfish in any way, he's always putting the team ahead of himself," last year's captain Brad St John said.
The wingman will share the captaincy with Jydon Neagle, who's among the group to recommit to the club for next year, along with former Azzi medallist Jolliffe.
Like all clubs, Raiders are targeting former players to manage the points system.
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"There's a few one pointers we'll look to bring back in and there's a couple of other guys that we're halfway down the track with as well, they're quality players, but we don't want to bring in too much, we're happy with the guys we've got and the recruits from last year," Hodgkin said.
"Everyone's after a great ruckman and centre half-back, but If a really good midfielder comes up, you'd be silly not to take them."