Liam Cavanagh will join the Rats from Strathmore in the EDFL, and Matt Hutchesson will join from Macedon in the RDFL.

Ararat Rats president David Hosking was pleased to announce the first batch of signings for next season.

"There are quite a few more, we just can't tell you yet," he said.

"There are some big-name players who are coming on board. It is exciting times.

"We have signed Liam Cavanagh for next season. He has currently been playing for Strathmore in Melbourne.

"We can also announce we have acquired the services of his friend Matt Hutchesson from Macedon."

Recruit Liam Cavanagh has returned to the club after having stints playing for Box Hill in the VFL and Strathmore in the EDFL.

In recent seasons, Cavanagh was the playing assistant coach of Strathmore's senior men's team and was the inaugural coach of Coburg Football Club's women's team.

"He is a very good footballer, he made the team of the year in the EDFL, it's a pretty good league," he said.

Hosking said Cavanagh and Hutchesson would slot right into the Rats lineup.

"We were pretty happy with our defensive unit this year but it is fair to say they were slightly undersized, not massively but perhaps just lacking one key tall player," he said.

"Liam (Cavanagh) is going to fit that bill, he is a six foot three key defender, a pretty solid unit."

"Matty Hutchesson is a big strong bodied midfielder.

"With those boy's and the other recruits, we know we are going to be significantly better.

"We are very confident that we will improve on this season."

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Hosking also revealed the club's social calendar is full for next season.

"It was our 150th birthday this year," he said.

"We decided in the pre-season not to run big events because we thought there was a chance that what did happen might happen. We will wait for next year.

"The events will include a past players day. We will have our teams of the decade night which will unveil our team of the decade.

"The 20-year reunion of the 2001 premiership will be held next year as well. There are a lot of events that will be on the social calendar next year.

"Exactly how that looks, we will wait and see until we get a bit more of an idea from the government about what people will be able to do."

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