The Demons have lured the 23-year-old Bardenhagen back to where he started his junior footy and went on to play 90 senior games including being part of the 2012 NTFA division 2 premiership team.

‘‘It’s good to have Thane back as coach and he is bringing a lot of local blokes back to the club which is great because we have been struggling for players the past couple of years because they have all gone to other clubs,’’ Hawes said.

‘‘We’ve got six or seven young ones playing at North and we lost about 16 from our premiership side of 2012.

‘‘So to get maybe eight to ten back is a big bonus and Thane as a three-time best and fairest player will lead them by example.’’

Hawes said the Demons had struggled since the 2012 premiership on and off the field and was hopeful of a more successful year in 2016.

‘‘We expect to be right up the top there somewhere and hope to make finals.

‘‘Colin Lockhart is back as bench coach at the club where he played along with his brothers and he is good with the younger players and you can see that with what he has done at North with their young kids.

‘‘We’ve had up around the 30 mark at training so numbers have been good.

‘‘Beau Tuthill is a former premiership player who has returned along with Tommy Grimes, Jobi Reynolds and Reuben Rothwell.

‘‘Mark Quinn is back as reserves coach and he has been a big drawcard too and Andrew McLean is going around again to help the young ones and he has been great for the club.’’