Attending their junior club’s family day at Chiltern Oval yesterday, the Geelong and Collingwood assistant coaches said they were hopeful a strong recruiting spree from Chiltern would lift it significantly higher up the ladder than its 10th-place finish last season.

“They’ve been training hard and just talking to (coach) Brian Durbridge it sounds like everyone’s excited for a big season,” Nigel said.

“I think (former coach) Dane O’Neill has done a good job with the team the past few years but it’s always good for the players to have a fresh voice.

“The aim of the club right now is just to improve each year and I think if they can keep their young thirds at the club as well as their current senior players they’ll have some good years ahead of them.”

Matthew agreed with his cousin, saying it was time the former Ovens and King club broke its premiership drought.

“I learnt most of what I know growing up playing for the club... there’s certainly a lot of excitement around the place at the moment,” Matthew said.

“They haven’t won a premiership for a while and they’re obviously looking to breakthrough in the next couple of years.”

Both Lappins spent yesterday morning hanging out with the club’s juniors, who kicked the footy with the club legends or played on the jumping castle.

Nigel said it was great to see a good turn-out for the family day which he said highlighted the importance of sport in country towns.

“Football and sport in general is the heartbeat of country towns like Chiltern and it’s really good to see a lot of enthusiasm and plenty of faces,” he said.

Chiltern is well placed to turn plenty of heads this season with several big name recruits including new coach Goulburn Valley Football League Morrison Medal winner Brian Durbridge and former Albury ruckman Jaise Coleman.

The club has also signed 2011 Jindera premiership key position player Kirk Wilson, Upper Murray League player Matt Nichol and Myrtleford Saints onballer Jay Dale.