The former Murray Bushranger was ever-present for Brock-Burrum last season, kicking 31 goals for the Saints in his second full year as a Hume league senior.

Mack, who signed for Wangaratta ahead of the cancelled 2020 season, has already caught the attention of new Brock-Burrum coach Peter Cook, with assistant coach Matt Seiter firmly in his corner as well.

"Willson is one we're really looking to see develop and maybe even push into Ovens and Murray or try to get down to the VFL system if we can," Cook said.

"He's got the ability and a good head on him so he's one we're excited about.

"A lot of it has to do with your mental application towards football.

"I'm a big advocate for enjoying football and from the guys I've spoken to about Willson, he's got a good, strong, mature head on him and he loves the game.

"He's still learning but taking that next step into senior football, it's a different game plan and a different sort of environment that I emphasise.

"I'm a big believer that you've got to be enjoying your footy to play your best footy so for a young bloke like that, he'll have no trouble coming across with a different game plan to go along with his football style."

Mack played in the 2019 grand final defeat to Osborne and his game has continued to develop ever since.

"I've always been one to try to assist these guys, providing they want to do it, to push them into Ovens and Murray or VFL," Cook said.

"I think any coach in our league would want to be doing the same.

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"You're putting the Hume league name out there and helping the league get to a better place.

"It's tough for regional footballers, if they're not already in the Bushrangers system, to get out there, so for Willson to have that state of mind - and who knows what the future is going to hold for him - all we can do is give him some tips of what I know, if he's keen to go down that path.

"We've got some avenues between 'Goof' and I that we can assist him to do that."

Brock-Burrum trained for a month before Christmas, with Cook laying on a relaxed start to pre-season.

"It was the same when I was coaching at Barnawartha," he said.

"There's not a lot of work, it's all skills-based and focusing on attendance but we'll be kicking up a gear as the new year rolls along."

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