Five players have crossed to the Warrnambool and District Football Netball League (WDFNL) club from Koroit.

It's a massive coup seeing as the Saints are in their most successful football era, winning three senior flags in seven years, which included 2009.

Players involved in last year's triumph who have settled at Tigerland include onballers Joel Nestor and Tim Carter and key defender Chris Ryan.

John Simpkin, who mainly lined up for the Saints' reserves last season, and Josh Sobey, who was often on the fringe of senior selection, are the two other ex-Koroit players who will line up for Merrivale.

Newly-appointed coach Stephen Kelson said Simpkin played across half-back while Sobey was an onballer.

Kelson said Tigers' ruckman Luke McInerney had a strong connection with the recruits.

"The others had just been at Koroit for a while and were looking for a change," he said.

Merrivale has also picked up the versatile Sam Green, who played in South Warrnambool's reserves last year, and former Old Collegians ruckman Michael Fish.

"We've also got Jason Bowen who has moved down from Melbourne," Kelson said.

"He played amateurs and will play up forward."

The new coach said he was impressed with the pre-season from Dion Romaniszyn and Shane Keane, who was sidelined from round three last year due to a shoulder injury.

"Luke McInerney is looking pretty fit this year as well," he said.

Kelson has lined up a series of practice matches for the Tigers.

They take on his former side, South Warrnambool, tonight and next Wednesday, while on March 13 they have a round robin with Port Fairy and Horsham Saints.

The side will test itself against Glenthompson-Dunkeld on March 20 while a week later it will clash with Mininera and District Football League's reigning premier Penshurst.

"We really just want to make sure that we put our game plan into place and work well under pressure," Kelson said.

The coach wasn't looking too far ahead when it came to the upcoming WDFNL season.

"Our main thing is to make sure we're competitive," he said.

"We're trying to create a competitive environment."

The Tigers open their season with a groundbreaking Good Friday match against Old Collegians.