Former Giants and Kangaroos midfielder Paul Ahern has signed with the Northern Bullants, headlining one of five inclusions for the returning VFL club, per The Herald Sun.

The 24-year-old joins former Bulldogs defender Kieran Collins in moving to the Bullants, who will compete in the 2021 season as a standalone club for the first time in 18 years.

Ahern was drafted to the Giants with the 7th overall selection in 2014 and failed to break into the senior side after ongoing ACL setbacks.

The big-bodied onballer was traded to North Melbourne after two years at GWS and went on to play 22 games across three seasons at Arden Street before being delisted at at the end of the 2020 season.

Collins played just the one match for the Bulldogs, coming in Round 9 of the 2016 season against the Giants.

The tall-defender was delisted by the Bulldogs at the end of the 2018 season and signed for the Northern Blues ahead of the 2019 season.

The pair join Sydney Swans Academy player Jackson Barling, Northern Blues midfielder Jean Luc Velissaris and former Box Hill jet Billy Murphy in a five-piece signing at the Bullants.

Former Collingwood ruckman Josh Fraser will coach the club in 2021 and will be assisted by Adelaide great and former assistant coach Ben Hart.