Dan McCarthy joins the Hawks from Wodonga Bulldogs where he returned to football last season through the reserves following a knee reconstruction.

"We're very excited to have Dan joining us. He won the Upper Murray League medal (in 2017) playing for Border-Walwa a couple of years ago," EWK coach Matt Hard said.

"We'll use Dan as a midfielder or up forward."

Tim Smith, who was full-back in the Hawks' success of 2016, returns to the club after a season with Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes in the Riverina League.

He adds to an impressive backline which has been marshalled by Trent Garner in recent seasons. Smith too has had a knee reconstruction, which saw him miss the 2018 season, before signing with the Goannas this year where he played at centre-half-back.

"That's probably where we see him playing. He's definitely excited to be coming back, he's obviously a premiership player with East Wagga," Hard said.

"He's learnt a bit in his time at Mangoplah and he'll bring back a bit more experience and one thing we do need more of, which is leadership."

Smith's return will also help their younger defenders, including Max Tiernan and Nic Curran, continue to develop their games without necessarily having to hold down a key position.

"It's going to be interesting, it will be tight for spots which is what we want, and it gives us flexibility as well," Hard said.

"We had a game this year where we had our whole back six out so we're building some depth there."

The Hawks had already produced a recruitment coup in signing Wagga Tigers' premiership captain Nick Ryan for next year as well as former Northern Jets best-and-fairest and representative backman Alex Rogers.

Hard is rapt to have had some success with signings well before Christmas.

Their departures for 2020 include captain Ben Absolum and key forward Chris Ladhams.

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