Temora premiership player Daniel Leary has linked with the Bulldogs after four years away at university in Wollongong.

Lachlan Leary has gained employment in Wagga and will join his older brother at Turvey Park, while Chase Grintell will return to Maher Oval after three seasons away.

Daniel Leary played with Camden in the AFL Sydney premier division last season after three years with Wollongong Lions in AFL South Coast, where he kicked 70 goals from 38 games.

Turvey Park co-coach Mark Carroll is happy to have the Leary brothers at the Bulldogs.

“Lachie is coming to Wagga with his work and was keen to come across to Turvey,” Carroll said.

“Dan’s pretty keen as well. He got a job teaching in the Riverina and is keen to play with his brother.

“Dan’s a pretty big boy. It’s hard to come up with big bodies so we’re very happy to have him. I haven’t seen him play but he’s been playing key position in AFL Sydney first grade, so he must not be going too bad.”

Carroll expects Leary to play in a key position at one end of the ground.

“He can play a bit of everywhere. He can slot in wherever we need,” he said.

“He can play key position at either end, or even go through the middle. I’ve got a pretty versatile team so we’ll just see where he settles but it gives us a few options, which is good.”

Leary was an emerging ruckman at Temora when he was named the club’s best first year player in their 2014 premiership season.

Since then, he has established himself up forward and in defence. Leary kicked eight goals in one game for Wollongong in 2016 and was named in AFL South Coast’s Team of the Year in 2017.

His younger brother Lachlan turns 18 in May but has already managed 18 senior games at Temora.

“He's a strong body and a good kid,” Carroll said.

Grintell returns to Turvey Park after one year at Coolamon and two seasons at Temora.

He played two years with the Bulldogs in 2014-15 and has represented Riverina League in the past.

“Chase is an experienced player and was an assistant coach here three or four years ago,” Carroll said.

“With such a young group, we’re really lucky to have Chase back, who brings 200-odd games of experience with him.

“He can play anywhere ans is a good fella and great clubman."

Carroll will use the trial games against Charles Sturt University (March 23) and Gungahlin (March 30) to help decide where Grintell will best fit.

“We’ll get some match stuff going at training and then a couple of trial games and see,” he said.

“He might fill the role that a young fella had to play last year. He can take that spot and put the young fella out onto a flank.”

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