Two Howlong products have declared the desire to win a hometown flag is behind their move.
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Clint Brunnenmeyer was set to play with the Spiders this year, until COVID-19 forced the cancellation of the Hume League, while Hamish Clark only signed on Tuesday night.
"It's just the appeal of maybe winning a flag at my home club," midfielder Clark said.
Clark spent three years at Upper Murray League outfit Bullioh, including the last two as coach, where he claimed successive premierships.
He won all three club best and fairests in his time there and was also the runner-up in all three league medals.
"Hamish has matured and we're getting him back in his prime basically," Howlong president Jason Kohn said.
"He's a quality midfielder with very good skills, he can kick 50m plus on either his right or left foot, and he's got good pace."
Brunnenmeyer has had a senior career stretching almost 20 years, starting with his Howlong debut in 2003.
He followed with a one-year stint at Mitta United and then spent four years at Walla from 2005 in his second stint in the Hume League.
Brunnenmeyer also spent time at Lavington in the Ovens and Murray Football League, along with time at Tyntynder (near Swan Hill), Railways (in the Kalgoorlie Goldfields competition) and Mayne in Queensland, coaching the club to a premiership during a five-year playing stint.
"The idea is to, hopefully, finish with a flag at home," he said.
"I reckon two more seasons I'd be happy to pull it up after that, but you never limit it if you don't have to."
Mayne is the club where Albury star Shaun Daly won three straight best and fairests.
"Shaun and I have spoken about winning a premiership at Howlong since we were kids, hopefully we can get him back there one day," he said.
The tough midfielder will be an assistant coach to David Miles.
"The experience of Clint and Hamish will be good for Dave, being a first-year coach," Kohn said.
The pair will add tremendous grunt to the midfield, virtually guaranteeing the Spiders will have one of the finest and toughest on-ball divisions in the league.
Howlong just missed finals last year, so given all players have had a year off, it just adds to the desire to return to finals.
But it won't be easy against traditional powerhouses Osborne and Brock-Burrum.
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Osborne will be the defending premiers next year after toppling the Saints by six goals in last year's decider.
Osborne also contested this year's AFL Riverina Championship and, while it was only a short six-week regular season, the club's younger players will benefit from the higher standard.