Former Hawthorn and Richmond footballer Billy Nicholls will pull on the red and white this season but the star recruit doesn't want the spotlight focused on him.

"Our big emphasis is the team and what we can do to make it easier for our teammates," Nicholls said.

"We're going to sit down in the next week or so and set some team rules and what we expect of each other.

"The main goal at the moment is all the team-orientated stuff.

"We want to be really close, that's our focus."

All the "we" and "our" talk coming from Nicholls is courtesy of newly-appointed coach Nigel Kol, who he said was strong on a team mentality.

Nicholls hoped to help the developing Roosters in 2010.

"Obviously it's a young club and there's a lot of younger guys," the 29-year-old said.

"They bled 13 under 18 lads last year who will be better for the experience.

"I'd like to think that because I'm a bit older, I can help them with what I learned over my five years at AFL level."

Nicholls played his junior football for Geelong Football League's North Shore.

He played seniors for the Seagulls when he was just 15 before lining up for the Geelong Falcons, from where he was recruited.

He played six games for Hawthorn in 2001 but was injury-plagued the following season.

He was delisted by the Hawks after failing to play a senior match in 2002 but was scooped up by Richmond, where he played 10 games in 2003 and 2004.

In the latter season, he was again beset by injuries.

He returned to North Shore for three seasons after his AFL career and has been at Geelong and District Football League club Corio the past two years.

"I broke my hand early last season so I only played about five games," said Nicholls, who played a combination of on-ball and forward line roles and once managed to slot through 10 goals in one match.

"I just wanted a bit of a change this season," he said.

"I knew a few lads from Warrnambool who I used to play Falcons with."

Those lads were South's Brendan Coffey and Danny Finn and Brisbane Lions triple premiership player Jonathan Brown.

Nicholls declared himself fit and raring to go after a strong pre-season.

"We're still doing a bit of fitness work but at the moment there's a lot of ball work," he said.

"Nigel has identified that we need to get our skill level up.

"I think I'm really going to enjoy this year."

The recruit has settled in Warrnambool with wife Penny and 19-month-old son William.

"He's William the fifth," Nicholls said.

According to the Hampden league website, Scott Maddern is returning to the Roosters after a stint in AFL Queensland while clearances for Ryan Harris, Blake Hutchinson and Jake Bacon are pending.

Harris played for De La Salle Old Collegians Football Club in the Victorian Amateur Football Association last season while Hutchinson is hoping to cross from North Geelong Football Club.

Bacon was a member of Old Collegians' under 17 Warrnambool and District 2009 premiership team.