Joe was among a swag of stars signed last week, including mercurial onballer Micah Buchanan (Beulah) and midfielders Jarryd Garner (Torquay), Luke Burnett (Otway Districts), Sean Smartt (Lorne) and Jake O'Dwyer (South Colac).

Colac president Nick Lang said the club was thrilled to add Dare to the mix.

"It is a big signing. He's a good player and a Maskell Medallist along with Joe at Cobden," he said.

"He had offers from all over the state, so we're pleased he's signed with Joe. He had some massive offers and it's fair to say he signed for less to be at Colac."

Lang said Dare's signing was a vote of confidence in the direction the club was heading under Lynch.

"It is a boost," Lang said. "These things don't happen overnight and there's been a lot of hard work put in at the club. We haven't played finals for two years and hopefully we're putting the pieces together to be part of finals in 2014."

The Tigers were regarded as the strongest team to have missed September action last season and the key signings provide real hope for a tilt at a premiership.

But Lang said the club's first step was to break into the top five.

"We're a long way away in regards to that (winning a flag)," Lang said.

"All we can do is continue to build. We were 2-6 and, although we flew home, we were comprehensively beaten by South Barwon (in Round 18). So, we've got some way to go."

 MEANWHILE, East Geelong has hosed down speculation Andrew Challis could leave the club.

Coach Ricky O'Toole said Challis had signed a new two-year deal at the Eagles "five to seven weeks ago" and had been playing a crucial part in designing his team's preseason training.

"I honestly don't know how it got legs," O'Toole said. "We have re-signed everyone from last year."