Wangaratta Rovers' hopes of keeping pace with the last season's finalists have been buoyed after signing former O and M stars Todd Grayson and Tyler Cornish.
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Rugged defender Grayson bolted in the Wodonga Raiders' best and fairest in his only year in the league in 2015, while ex-Gold Coast Suns' reserves' on-baller Cornish featured the following year.
Rovers' co-coach Daryn Cresswell coached the pair at Raiders, prior to his high-profile departure to the Hawks in late 2018.
"We were always in conversation with Todd, we had a chat to him at the end of last year as well and the timing worked out alright for him this year," Rovers' football operations manager Barry Sullivan said.
We were always in conversation with Todd, we had a chat to him at the end of last year as well and the timing worked out alright for him this year. He's looking forward to coming to the Ovens and Murray again and reuniting his relationship with 'Crezza'.
- Barry Sullivan
"He's looking forward to coming to the Ovens and Murray again and reuniting his relationship with 'Crezza'."
The Gold Coast product, who was in the Suns' inaugural TAC Cup team in 2009, met a number of the players when he spoke to the club last year.
"He thinks the atmosphere is what's going to make him enjoy his footy which, when you get a bit more senior in your career, is what you're looking for," Sullivan explained.
"Tyler Cornish will also be good for us, he and Todd provide experience, they're good ball users and very capable players."
Although it will be six (Grayson) and five years respectively since the pair played at Raiders, their return will only add to the bitter rivalry which exploded out of Cresswell's stunning departure.
Rovers also fielded another former Raider in feisty midfielder Raven Jolliffe.
Raiders edged out Rovers for a spot in the top five in 2019 on percentage, while the 2020 competition was cancelled due to COVID-19.
The Hawks have taken a back seat to a number of other clubs in the recruiting stakes since stunning the league by announcing six recruits in November, 2019, shortly after losing an appeal to AFL North East Border for more player points.
Co-coach Jamason Daniels, who also spent spent time at the God Coast Suns in a development coaching role, joined former captain Tyson Hartwig and ex-Northern Blue (VFL) Tyson Armitage, among others.
In the meantime, fierce rivals Wangaratta had signed 2010 Collingwood premiership forward-defender and 2011 All-Australian centre half-back Ben Reid, Albury had snared two ex-AFL players in Anthony Miles (co-coach) and Jeff Garlett, while preliminary finalists Myrtleford had also picked up elite level duo Dawson Simpson and Taylor Hunt.
There's a feeling in the league clubs have had to be extremely productive to 'keep up with the Joneses'.
"All that (our recruits) adds up to us improving quite reasonably from 2019, where we were knocking on the door for the five," Sullivan said.
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"We lost four games by single figures so this year hopefully we, at least, keep up to the pack and we know our side's improved."
The Hawks' improvement will be gauged against the regular season's top three in the first month.
