The Bulldogs have been the biggest movers during a slow start to the Group Nine off-season, welcoming back Haydn Cowled and Chris Maher to the fold.

After two successful seasons with Young, Cowled is looking forward to being back with his junior club.

“Hopefully with all the experience that I’ve had playing with Young I can bring that back to Coota,” Cowled said.

While the former Canberra Raiders player signing on has created plenty of buzz following a couple of poor seasons for the Bulldogs, it is actually Aaron Byrne who sealed the deal for the 20-year-old.

“Byrnesy coaching, who is my cousin, is the reason,” Cowled said.

Maher is another former Bulldog returning home after two seasons with Temora.

He was the best and fairest winner with the club in 2015 before making the switch to the Dragons.

Byrne believes he will add plenty of depth to the forward pack.

“It's a big signing for us,” Byrne said. 

“He’s good on his feet, he’s a good defender and he can play across the park so we’ll look at slotting him in wherever we can.”

It is expected Maher is the first of a large contingent of Dragons heading back to the Bulldogs.

Classy fullback Jordyn Ballard is another touted to return home after a shoulder injury derailed his season while former coach Grant Boyd is still weighing up his retirement plans.