Rockbank is hoping some tough off-season calls will lead to the ultimate success in the Riddell District Football League.
The Rams have gone through a large turnover of players as they throw their support behind a push towards youth.
As part of the strategy, the club is trying to attract recruits who want the chance to play senior football rather than those searching for big-money offers.
With player payments rising by the year in local football, Rockbank coach Gavin Sporle says the change of emphasis has come with its challenges.
“There’s a lot of money in local football these days and we’re taking a path which steers away from that,” he said.
“That makes it hard to have recruiting conversations with some players.”
Rockbank will be looking to promote as many youngsters as possible from within the club.
Sporle pinpoints former junior Ricky Cameron as the ideal prototype.
Cameron progressed from the club’s under-18s and is expected to be a fixture in the senior side this season.
Thomas Mainey, also a former Rockbank junior, will captain the club.
“Those guys have come out of our juniors, which is something we like to see,” Sporle said.
“It’s extremely pleasing, especially for the way we want to model the group moving forward.”
Rockbank begins its 2016 campaign with an away game against the Melton Centrals.
The first home game will be against Woodend Hesket the following week.
The Rams say they will continue to search for more players, especially for their reserves side, until the season kicks off.
“We’ve had up to 41 different players on the track at any time,” Sporle said.
“We’re pretty confident we’ll have a two’s side.”
