The Bulldogs haven't played finals since 2009 and after four years away, the 31-year-old wants to play a role in leading the club back into top five contenders.

"For sure, obviously we were always a powerhouse of a club and it's been the darkest days for the club the last decade, so we're looking to see it back in the top five, where it belongs," he said.

It would be a monumental effort to play finals immediately, given the Bulldogs won only one game in 2019 to pick up the wooden spoon and many of the teams above them will improve.

However, a revamped Wangaratta Rovers went from a winless wooden spoon in 2018 to missing finals on percentage, so the template is there for rapid improvement.

"We've stripped it right back and taking the club in a new direction," Murray said.

"Obviously 'Fully' (previous coach Zac Fulford) has done an amazing job over the last couple of years, but with the new recruits it will inject new life into the joint and bring some new ideas.

"We'll get good habits into the boys and there's no reason why we can't turn it around really quickly."

Like the winless Rovers, the Bulldogs have picked up a host of players, including former O and M rep Murray, new coach Jordan Taylor (Southport) and his 2018 premiership team-mate Sam Jewell.

"Sam will be our ruckman and he will a big impact straight away," Murray enthused of the 196cm Jewell.

Murray's experience will also be vital for Taylor, while former Barooga coach Zac Brain can also lend leadership support.

"He's been playing at Nightcliff in the Northern Territory, he's another in his prime in his mid-20s, he's an inside midfielder and he'll spend time forward as well," Murray said.

"He's just a great leader and I think he'll have a big impact straight away."

Nightcliff is leading the AFLNT and Brain featured in the competition's Premier League squad last year.

The club has also signed former Brisbane Lions' midfielder Josh Clayton for two years, but he's expected to play most of the year with North Melbourne's reserves in the VFL with only the occasional game at the Bulldogs as his second club.

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The season fixture for the VFL, which also includes what was known as the NEAFL, is still a few weeks away from being released, given it's intrinsically linked to the AFL draw, so O and M clubs will be sweating on that to see who might be available, particularly early.

Wodonga is away to Corowa-Rutherglen in round one before launching into twilight matches against Yarrawonga and Albury, followed by the local derby against Raiders.