NORTH Warrnambool Eagles mentor Adam Dowie says the signatures of three players who will step up from stints in the Warrnambool and District league speaks to their character.
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The Bushfield-based club on Friday unveiled Merrivale brothers Tate and Jalen Porter and Kolora-Noorat livewire Ryley Hutchins as its newest recruits.
The trio lifted the Eagles' recruit tally to four and will join former Geelong and West Coast ruckman Nathan Vardy in pushing for the club's maiden Hampden league premiership in 2022.
Dowie said the Porter brothers would likely find a home through midfield while Hutchins was an exciting option forward of the ball.
"Having both started out here and come back now is great. They're both terrific young players and really good people. To get the boys back there is terrific," he said.
"They had a terrific year at Merrivale and were well coached there by Josh Sobey. They're probably a little bit different as players. Jalen is one we think can develop into a really good inside mid. He's pretty tough and loves the contested part of the game.
"Tate has that bit of polish and class and can probably play that inside and outside a little bit."
Dowie said the duo would provide reinforcements through midfield and would help to cover Maskell medallist Jett Bermingham if he decided to pursue opportunities at a higher level.
"I think midfield was probably an area we needed to strengthen up and I think they both know they're stepping up a level. They're looking forward to the challenge."
Dowie, a multiple Hampden league premiership coach, expected Hutchins to provide x-factor.
"I think Ryley is pretty ambitious and wants to play the best footy he can," Dowie said.
"I've spoken a bit to (former Kolora-Noorat coach Ben Walsh) who said he has that bit of x-factor and he's a ripping kid.
"I think for him it'll just be a little bit of work rate and in coming from Kolora-Noorat, they're a really well-structured footy program and he's been taught well. He knows there are areas we're going to challenge him and by all accounts he has the footy smarts and all the ingredients there."
The former Warrnambool, Terang Mortlake and Koroit mentor said the trio's decision was a reflection on their drive and motivation to test themselves.
"Whether it's Jett and he goes to a VFL club, whether it's a Kaine Mercovich who went to the SANFL, you want your players to be the best players they can be," Dowie said.
"If we end up losing Jett to that higher level he will go with our blessing and it would've been the same at Port Fairy for Kaine. At Kolora-Noorat you've got Nick Bourke who's given his blessing to Ryley and Josh Sobey was the same for Tate and Jalen.
"I think for me as a parent, a football coach and a teacher there's nothing more frustrating than when people are capable of doing great things but just want to be in that comfort zone. It's really impressive these boys have said 'I want to be challenged and be a bit uncomfortable' to keep improving."
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