A torrid run with injury during 2013 has created a deeper and hungrier playing list at West Preston-Lakeside, says coach Frank Raso.
Raso said his side used more than 50 players on its way to a seventh-place finish in Northern Football League Division 1 last season.
He said the experience 14 under-19 players had gathered at senior level and the addition of at least five recruits would leave the Roosters well placed in 2014.
"We’re going along the lines of improving from within," Raso said.
"It must be some sort of record, we played 53 players last year.
"We were one game clear inside the finals with three games to go but just had too many injuries."
Epping trio Peter Shepherd, Harley Nancarrow and Luke Lirosi have signed on for next season.
Raso said the club’s recruiting drive would not stop at three new players, with a centre half-back and full-back a priority.
"Peter Shepherd and Harley Nancarrow will add two forward options," he said.
"We pretty much had no tall forwards last year.
"We don’t expect them to come in and be matchwinners, just to play their role."
Raso said Michael Belbasis and Adrian Natoli were among the young Roosters expected to cement their senior spot during pre-season.
"Out of the 14 under-19s, I think about nine of those played more than 10 games," he said.
"When we beat Bundoora at home, I think we had eight playing.
"We think we’ve got some pretty good kids, so we’re not going to recruit too heavily and just work with what we’ve got."
He said Natoli had the potential to be "one of the best small forwards in the competition" and appeared certain to be a senior regular for 2014.
"All of (the under-19s) are motivated to play senior footy now because they’ve had a taste of it," he said.
"Playing 10 or 11 under-19s at one time is obviously not ideal, but there’s probably 10 or 11 that are capable with room for four or five and the others providing competitions."
This article is courtesy of Leader Newspaper.
