Just ask Warrnambool export Brent Moloney. The Melbourne footballer only missed one game for the Demons last season.

"I played 21 out of 22 games and it was actually the first time I didn't need surgery after a season," Moloney said yesterday.

While the 25-year-old ? who has suffered from osteo pubis for the past three years ? said luck may have kept him off the sidelines, he attributed the bulk of his success to a solid pre-season training.

It was a message that echoed across Warrnambool's Friendly Societies' Park last night. Moloney took his former club South Warrnambool for a two-hour training session, running the Roosters through gruelling AFL drills.

"If you have a full pre-season under your belt, then you have set yourself up for a good season. Every training session gives you an opportunity to become a better footballer."

Putting in the hard yards over the 2008-2009 summer paid off for Moloney. He came runner-up to Aaron Davey in the Demons' best and fairest count.

He said he was looking forward to 2010 with Melbourne. He said the team had a young list, which was developing and he hoped the 2009 wooden-spooners would become a finals contender within coming years.

Terang's Jordie McKenzie, drafted to the club as a rookie in 2008, was one young player who would help carve a strong future for the club, Moloney said. Less than 12 months after being picked by the Demons, McKenzie made his senior debut.

"Jordie is well respected by the club because he worked had on his game and that is the reason why he was elevated."

South Warrnambool finished sixth on the Hampden league ladder last season. Moloney said he would do whatever he could to help the club surge back to the top.

"I played all my junior footy as a South Warrnambool player and obviously being a past player it's great to be able to come back."

Roosters reserves' coach Jeremy O'Donnell invited Moloney to the training session. He said while it was early in the pre-season, South had attracted about 40 players to training sessions.

"The boys are pretty keen. We've probably averaged 24 players at training and nearly 40-odd faces all up," he said.

"It's been a great start and next year we'll have a good mix of experienced and younger players."

O'Donnell succeeded Clayton Harrington to lead the reserves.

"All I want to do is continue where Harry left off and give opportunities for younger players so we have good depth in our side."