After Temora elected to withdraw from the Group Nine season, the former Dragons captain-coach was intending to play for Coolamon this season.

However as they Hoppers pulled out of the AFL Riverina Championships the 25-year-old has linked with the new-look Diesels outfit.

With Elwin a budding greyhound trainer, limiting travel was one of the reasons the star halfback linked with Junee.

"I got a bit of itchy feet so I thought I might come and play," Elwin said.

"I wanted to go to Southcity and help Nathan (Rose) out as they said he was struggling for numbers, and I always wanted to play with him, but it was just too far to travel.

"It only sounds like an extra half an hour but you've got the extra half an hour there, half an hour back and I wouldn't get time to train my dogs in the afternoon if I were to go to Wagga.

"Junee was more convenient and I've grown up mates with some of the Junee boys."

Elwin has been named at halfback to tackle Brothers at Equex Centre on Sunday.

However the team is far from settled with captain-coach Trent Schubach among those under an injury cloud.

Schubach was thrilled to have Elwin on board.

"It is really handy," Schubach said.

"He's played at a really good level of footy so it is a handy pick up and will only strengthen our side."

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Junee have a number of new faces this season with talent coming across from a number of Group 20 clubs as well as Cootamundra late in the pre-season.

However Elwin is one of the standouts.

"He's probably been one of the best players in the comp in the last couple of years," Schubach said.

"He just brings that experience and leadership. He will help with direction and has a good kicking game on him as well."

Schubach has been named at lock but is in doubt due to a neck injury.

Meanwhile Aaron Byrne has been ruled out for the rest of the season after rupturing his bicep in the round one loss to Young.

Pat Sweeney also won't take his place in the side this week.

Coming off the bye after a round one loss to Young up against the only team to win both of their games to start the season, Schubach hopes the extra week's preparation can be a real boost.

"Hopefully we can have a bit of improvement from round one," he said.

"I was pretty pleased with how we played and we just ran out of a bit of puff fitness wise.

"Hopefully we can play a bit better as a team as it was the first time we had had a hit out all together."

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