Elliott Powell in talks with Dederang-Mt Beauty over his plans for 2022

Powell, a triple premiership player with Albury, was back with his home club this year as the Bombers finished seventh in the Tallangatta league.

Increasing work commitments will be a major factor but co-coach Jones, who is also Powell's apprentice in his building company, believes 2022 is shaping up to be a special year in the High Country.

"Elliott's working through some things with the club at the moment," Jones said.

"His business is getting busier and the busier he gets, the busier I get.

"I don't put too much pressure on him for footy; he'll make his mind up and I'll let the Dederang people talk to him about that.

"Hopefully it all goes right.

"I love playing footy with him, he's my best mate and hopefully he can give me one more year.

"He's not stupid, he knows how close this group is to actually doing something.

"He'd hate to miss out on that, that's the reason he's back at his home club, to play finals footy.

"He'd hate it if he decided not to play with Dederang next year and we made finals.

"I don't even think the Tallangatta league's seen the best of him yet, which is scary.

"He played some absolutely ripping games this year but a couple of injuries got him.

"He did the right thing by trying to help his team-mates out but in the end, he hurt himself a little bit more.

"As the coach of Dederang, he's the first one I want to re-sign but whatever will be, will be.

"He'll do what he needs to do and I'll support him, 100 percent, either way."

Jones believes the Bombers can emulate Yackandandah's rise to prominence next year after the Roos improved from eighth in 2019 to finish this season as minor premiers.

"Dederang have let teams bully them in the past but when the penny drops with this group, they are a big finals player," Jones said.

"Josh Kable, our captain, is young kid and he was taking 20-plus marks a game.

"I'd love to see what he could do in the O and M because he's a really good player but luckily, Dederang's got him sorted out for next year.

"The other one I'd love to keep is Michael Barro.

"We got him halfway through the year and we were pretty excited to get him.

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"He was at Mitcham down in Melbourne, he rocked up one Thursday night and we made a massive call to bring him straight into the seniors.

"We were a little bit worried at the time because if it had backfired on us, we might have upset a few people but he repaid our faith.

"He nearly got best on ground in his first game and after that, he was in our best every week.

"Hopefully the boys at Dederang can get the job done and Baz sticks on board next year because he's a good one.

"The club's in a good spot.

"I think this group was unlucky not to play finals this year, they play some really exciting footy and the message next year will be that anything other than finals is a disappointment."

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