THE WESTERN Bulldogs have appointed Richmond scout Nick Austin as their new recruiting manager.
The Dogs have been on the search for a new recruiting manager since February when Simon Dalrymple left the club after nearly 11 years to join Sydney.
The club has confirmed AFL.com.au's report that Austin has won the position to head the Dogs' recruiting team having been a pro scout for the Tigers in recent years and a key member of the list management group that helped deliver Richmond its breakthrough premiership last season.
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He had also previously worked with Port Adelaide and the Dogs as an opposition analyst.
The Dogs have had significant change in their recruiting and list management space over the off-season, losing both architects of their 2016 premiership list – Dalrymple and list manager Jason McCartney.
McCartney left to take up a role as Greater Western Sydney's list manager, which saw the Bulldogs attract former player Sam Power to fill that vacancy.
Power was previously at Carlton as its pro scout.
The Bulldogs' appointment of Austin ends what has been an unprecedented merry-go-round of recruiting appointments in club land over the pre-season.
