They’ll see the return of some familiar faces in key defenders John McHenry and Josh Slattery, who played in grand finals for the club in 2010 and 2013 respectively.

Coach Ben James was also able to lure his star full-forward brother, Luke, away from Melbourne-based Southen Football League club St Paul’s East Bentleigh after an injury-ravaged 2014.

James kicked 100 goals in a season on multiple occasions for the Bentleigh club, and will bring experience and presence into the Lions’ forward line.

They’ve also picked up Tungamah premiership defender Damien Cook and Wahgunyah’s Jake Beams, with James pleased to be able to add some experience into his young side.

“We lost a lot of players going into the 2014 season, and I think we did an outstanding job to make the finals,” James said.

“At the moment the feeling is that we’ve been able to rejuvinate the list, and as a result there’s a real buzz at pre-season training.

“To have had just five players from a premiership side two years ago, we feel like we’ve come out pretty well.

“We have picked up some very solid citizens.”