MOSS VALE Dragons will return to first grade next year and have also acquired former South Sydney Rabbit's player Scott Geddes as part of their coaching staff.
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Geddes was originally going to play but has recently had surgery on his pectoral muscle and said he felt he would not be right for next season.
New first grade coach Andrew Bowie played junior football with Geddes and they also played together at Parramatta.
Bowie was instrumental in bringing Geddes to the club and Dragons president Greg Maloney said they were thrilled to have him for next year.
Coming straight from the NRL, Geddes will have a lot to do with the Dragons strength and conditioning and Bowie said it was a great opportunity for all the players.
"It's a massive opportunity for them to learn and even for myself. It should be something different," he said.
Bowie has been involved with the junior Dragons for a number of years and won a premiership with the under-16Bs this year.
He will now step up to first grade and said he hoped to form a premiership winning team.
"They needed a coach and I enjoy coaching so why not? Semi-final and grand final football isn't beyond us."
"It's going to be a big season for us, hopefully very successful."
Bowie said they key for Moss Vale at the start of next season would be fitness.
"If your not fit then your behind the eight ball."
Maloney said Bowie had "hit the ground running" and the club "couldn't be more happy with how he's started."
Peter McGuinness will coach the under-18s again, with all players from this year's grand final team set to return for the 2013 season.
"Certainly at this time there's great enthusiasm around the Moss Vale ranks with the under-18s doing so well and re-entering first grade," Maloney said.
While the Dragons are still in the market for a front rower and five-eighth, Maloney said they were pleased to have a number of players returning to the club from overseas to bolster their ranks.
Training for the Dragons will start on Friday at 6pm at Community Oval, with training on Tuesday nights at Lackey Park.
Maloney said any interested players were welcome to attend and he looked forward to their first match of the season on march 24 next year against Mittagong Lions.
