Dufty left the Dragons to sign a one-year deal with the Bulldogs after struggling to convince Paul McGregor or Anthony Griffin he was the Red V's long-term No.1.

The 25-year-old was dropped by both coaches before becoming embroiled in the fallout from Paul Vaughan's BBQ which breached NSW and NRL COVID-19 guidelines.

"Coming up against the Dragons in round 12 at Belmore is going to be massive," Dufty told the Bulldogs website.

"It's going to be a weird feeling, but I'm so excited for it. We're going to pack the stands out and get the win."

Dufty, who played 82 games for the Dragons after making his NRL debut at the joint-venture in 2017, joins a Bulldogs team that has undergone an off-season overhaul with the likes of Matt Burton, Josh Addo-Carr, Paul Vaughan and Tevita Pangai Jr joining the club.

But Canterbury's shrewdest recruit might come in the shape of new football manager Phil Gould, who has been brought in to help Trent Barrett after his first year in charge ended with a wooden spoon.

"(With) Trent you can see how much knowledge he's got just through the first few days and he's talking about what he wants to do in the future and how he wants us to attack," Dufty added.

"We've got Gus floating around too and he's a well of knowledge as well and whenever you see those two talking footy together you stop and listen."

Australian Associated Press