Former star Andrew Clements has returned to the fold and will be joined by south-west locals Richard Couch (Camperdown) and Joseph Wensley (Koroit).

The club has also recruited a troupe of Melbourne-based players, with Robb Jewell and James Plant set to pull on red and blue this season, while Daniel Smith, Dale Hood, and Angus and Nicholas Robertson have crossed from afar.

Hunt said he was looking to “bridge the gap” until the next batch of talented juniors rose through the ranks and was comfortable the new talent understood the values held at the club.

“We have four or five living locally while the other guys have been training with other country footy players at Gosch’s Paddock when they have the chance,” Hunt said.

“They’re all country boys who have played plenty of country football and after having a conversation to them, I was very much at ease that they’d fit in well.”

Hunt, who is in his second-year at the helm of the Demons, said consistent improvement would be the goal as the club strives to improve its position on last year.

“We’re just looking to put our heads down, and our bums up to improve our win-loss ratio,” he said.

“The players I was looking for were skilled in run-and-carry with a bit of height. We lacked that a bit last year and this will free-up other players for normal roles.”