After winning four matches in the club’s first year as a merged entity, the Giants have bolstered their stocks with classy forward Todd Miller committing as assistant-coach.

He kicked 57 goals in Thurgoona’s premiership campaign last season.

Key position players Brendan Simmons (injured) and Josh Warren (Holbrook) will bolster the team’s spine while Jayden Quinlivan (Chiltern), Shaun Fitzpatrick (Kedron) and Mitch Lauritzen (Culcairn) have returned after previously playing for the club.

Coach Myles Aalbers believes the Giants are far better equipped than last season.

“We have shored up 95 per cent of our list and brought some players in for positions we needed to strengthen,” Aalbers said.

“Todd Miller and Josh Warren are going to be really good as key forwards with Nick Turner and that’s something we lacked last year.

“Todd’s older brother, Corey, coached our reserves last year and he’s keen to get into coaching as well after being a really good player for Thurgoona.

“A really positive thing for the club is Josh Warren, Brendan Simmons, Jayden Quinlivan, Shaun Fitzpatrick and Mitch Lauritzen are former players and wanted to come back to the club.

“They will help our kids along.”

The Giants, who start pre-season training in the first week of January, play Culcairn in the opening round on April 1.