The Roos haven't played finals for seven years and won only five games in the past four years, but it's great to see them launch themselves into trying to jump back up the ladder.

The club started the roll by signing highly-credentialled former AFL assistant Peter German in September and there's been a constant stream of signings since.

Unfortunately for the Roos, so many other clubs have picked up quality recruits as well, so while there won't be the wins they were hoping for six months ago, the club can still be proud of its off-field efforts.

*ARRIVALS*

Cody Howard (CDHBU/Box Hill), Cameron and Damien Wilson (Rutherglen), Kyle Docherty (Mount Eliza), Jason Marks, Charlie Nastasi (Spotswood), George Sandral (Billabong Crows), James Svarc (Coburg), Iain McGillivray (Culcairn), Matt Grantham (Wahgunyah), Tom Goodwin (Port Melbourne), Byron Haberman (Billabong Crows), Mark Athanitis (Strathfieldsaye), Ben Ferraro (Wangaratta), Brent Rose (Thurgoona)

*DEPARTURES*

Tim Brook (Chelsea Heights), Cody Parker (retired), Tyler Spencer (Newtown Chilwell), Dean Druce (retired), Peter Whyte (year off ), Callum Spencer (year off), Matt and James Tanner (Rutherglen), Jack Bates (Palm Beach Currumbin), Rohan Davies (Hurstbridge)

THE LATEST:

THE ROOS HAVE PICKED UP THE MOST RECRUITS, BUT THEY'RE COMING FROM SO FAR BACK AND GIVEN THE SPREAD OF TALENT THROUGH THE LEAGUE, COULD THEY STILL FINISH BOTTOM THREE?

Definitely. And the strange aspect is they could well win more games and still finish around the same mark. It's been a long re-build for the club, but after successive winless wooden spoons in 2016-2017, the club has snared five wins in the past two years.

WHAT WILL BE A SUCCESSFUL YEAR?

Everybody wants to put a figure on it and, let's face it, that's the nature of sport, but as long as they improve markedly, that's a pass mark. Still, the club would want at least six wins, given the numbers into the club.

WHO WILL BE THE BEST NEWCOMER?

Tom Goodwin. It's been a weird 18 months for the two-metre tall ruckman. He missed the last seven games of Port Melbourne's season in 2019 with an Achilles' tendon injury, missed the year of footy with COVID, then actually contracted the coronavirus in August and, to top it off, had a knee arthroscopy after that. His fitness has naturally taken a hiding over that time, but he's getting back there. He might be a little slower to start than he hoped, but should be cherry ripe by the back half of the year.

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT OUT OF JAMES SVARC AFTER THREE YEARS OUT?

You would think it would be a slow burn. Svarc has been working in the WA mines and it's likely to take some time to regain his touch, but he's a former O and M rep and played two games in the VFL.

Q: You've just completed your cricket season and have combined it over summer with footy training, how do you balance that?

A: It was one night for the footy and one night cricket, I was just trying to juggle both with family and work on top of that.

Q: You have two children and run your own carpentry business, how do you fit that all in?

A: You just make it happen. I'm lucky enough I'm good mates with (Corowa coach) Jarryd Hatton in the cricket, so that's what's brought me back and I've loved it.

Q: The football club has so many cricketers, how has first-year coach Peter German handled that?

A: Pete German has been absolutely terrific mate, he's worked in with the cricket club and the whole community. I've coached before (Rutherglen in football), so I know what's involved and wanting guys to be there, but I cant speak highly enough of the way 'Germo's' gone about it.

Q: It's been a tough few years for the Roos, but the club has recruited heavily, what's a pass mark?

A: I wouldn't put a figure on it game-wise, we're pretty confident we're going to be in games and not just three or four games throughout the year. We know within the group, we'll scare a fair few sides and it's going to be pretty exciting for us.