In the club's biggest coup for years, Essendon VFL utility Angus Baker signed with the Bulldogs on Monday, after fellow VFL player Alex Smout (GWS) also agreed to a one-year deal.

"Alex is exceptional, he's a ball-winner, I wouldn't be surprised if he was as good as (Wangaratta Rovers' Morris Medal fancy) Tyler Roos," coach Jordan Taylor enthused.

"And in my opinion, I reckon Angus will be comparable to anyone in the league."

The pair is based in Canberra after starring at NEAFL level there and a number of the ACT's top football minds were glowing in their praise.

"Baker will be close to the best player in the comp, he was easily the best player in Canberra," former Ainslie premiership coach Chris Rourke, who coached against both players, offered.

"Smout is just a classy midfielder, he won't be far behind him, he just racks 'em and stacks 'em, but uses the ball really well."

Rourke coached Lavington premiership coach and Myrtleford recruit Simon Curtis at Ainslie and declared his kicking as elite, which proved spot on given he vies with 2018 Morris medallist Brodie Filo as the league's best kick in the past four years.

"He (left-footer Smout) is a beautiful kick, he wouldn't be far behind Curtis in his kicking skills," he revealed.

Ex-North Albury player Kade Klemke coached them at the Canberra Demons.

"Alex is an accumulator, one game that stands out was against the Giants, it was wet conditions and he really turned it on against AFL mids, he ended up with 39 disposals," he explained.

"2019 was Angus's breakout year where he really turned it on, he was averaging 30 disposals across half-back, he intercepts a lot of the footy."

Both made the NEAFL Team of the Year, while Baker won the Rising Star.

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He then claimed the ACT league's Mulrooney Medal in 2020.

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