EFL 2019: Two-time Hurstbridge premiership player Sean Jellie among the recruits at Warrandyte

Warrandyte coach Anthony McGregor expects the Bloods to be premiership contenders this year after signing a bevy of recruits.

Sean Jellie in action for Hurstbridge. Picture: Nathan William Media

Warrandyte coach Anthony McGregor expects the Bloods to be premiership contenders this year after signing a bevy of recruits.

The Bloods have enjoyed an active recruiting period as they hunt for their first finals appearance since the 2015 Division 4 premiership.

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Hurstbridge veteran Sean Jellie has linked with Warrandyte after a distinguished career at the Northern Football League Division 1 club.

Jellie played more than 140 games for the Bridges, was a club captain, two-time premiership player and was among the best players in the 2016 Division 2 grand final win.

Teammate Tom Grimes and his brother Nathan (Corryong) have also been cleared to the Eastern Football League Division 3 club.

Luke Hodge has also run pen over paper at Warrandyte from Hampden Football League club Portland and will boost the club’s rucks stocks.

The Bloods have won just 11 games since the 2015 premiership win and were demoted back to the fourth tier last year as part of the EFL restructure.

But McGregor, in his second season at the club, said he expected his side to figure at the pointy end of the eight-team division.

“We’ve spoken all pre-season about playing deep finals, that’s our goal, and I think with the inclusions we’ve got, and with the full retention of who we’ve got, if we’re not making deep finals, I’ll be putting my hand up that’s for sure,” McGregor said.

“Questions need to be asked but I think as a club we are wanting to play deep finals and we should be playing deep finals.”

Warrandyte opens its season against Glen Waverley Hawks at Warrandyte Reserve on April 6.

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Tom Grimes dishes off a handball for Hurstbridge. Picture: Nathan William Media

Retention also has the Bloods looking strong for 2019.

“We’ve had full retention with no losses this year, which is fantastic from losing 18 or 19 last year, we’ve kept hold of every single player that played senior footy from last year’s list,” McGregor said.

“From going to probably having, let’s say four genuine on-ballers to probably now 12 genuine on-ballers, it’s a great problem to have in rolling them through the middle, forward and back.”