A fit Jordan Bain and Jacob Mahony teaming with recruits Liam Darcy and Marcus Hamilton are expected to give the Magpies’ attack a major boost.

Third-year coach Phil Carse – himself a threat around goals – hopes the revamped forward half will help the Leura Oval-based club secured back-to-back finals berths.

Queenslander Bain kicked 23 goals – an equal team season-high – from just five matches before a knee injury ended his Hampden league debut season.

Mahony was also restricted to four goals from seven games.

Darcy returns to Camperdown after a stint at Victorian Amateur Football Association level as a ruck-forward option, while Northern Territorian midfielder Marcus Hamilton can also hit the scoreboard.

“From a key position perspective, we think we’re in a better position,” Carse said.

“It strengthens up our spine and with Jacob Mahony missing the majority of last year as well, he can play at both ends as well.

“Liam’s been predominantly a centre half-forward in the past but he’s certainly got the height and size as well. We probably envisage him going through the ruck and forward line.”

Running defender Charlie Fry and tagger Troy McLaughlin have also returned to the Pies, while youngsters Riley Arnold, Charlie Lucas and Lachie Bone are expected to play bigger roles.

Former Cobden key defender Brendan Richardson will hold down a key post with reigning club best and fairest winner Daniel Seehusen to miss most of the season with work commitments.

Carse is bullish about the Magpies’ prospects, having made an elimination final with an undermanned attack last season.

“We’ve gone from seven wins to nine wins,” he said of his first two seasons at the helm. We feel we’re on the right path in terms of our improvement too and we’re keen to get out there and show that.”

The draw

R1: Koroit (H)

R2: Terang Mortlake (A)

R3: North Warrnambool Ealges (H)

R4: Cobden (A)

R5: South Warrnambool (A)

R6: Port Fairy (H)

R7: Portland (A)

R8: Hamilton Kangaroos (H)

R9: Warrnambool (A)

R10: Koroit (A)

R11: Terang Mortlake (H)

R12: North Warrnambool Eagles (A)

R13: Cobden (H)

R14: South Warrnambool (H)

R15: Port Fairy (A)

R16: Portland (H)

R17: Hamilton Kangaroos

R18: Warrnambool (H)

2016 best and fairest 

1st: Daniel Seehusen

2nd: Phil Carse

3rd: Jesse Gallichan

2016 most goals

1st: Charlie Lucas 23

2nd: Jordan Bain 23

3rd: Riley Arnold

Arrivals

Liam Darcy (VAFA), Charlie Fry (VAFA), Troy McLaughlin (Simpson), Marcus Hamilton (Darwin), Dale Cox (Halls Creek), Brendan Richardson (Cobden)

Departures 

Jack Hickey (Hamilton Kangaroos), Damian Pemberton (Woorndoo-Mortlake), Nick Walsh (Woorndoo-Mortlake), Jake Dowell (CHFL)

Player to watch

MARCUS HAMILTON: The cousin of Brisbane draftee Cedric Cox has come down from Darwin to play in the Hampden league. A skillful and balanced midfielder with a penchant for a goal, he is expected to add x-factor to the Magpies' line-up. He will be a huge asset to their attack given their struggles with goal kicking last season.