A flowing gameplan, experience and youth jelling in the same team, and its best start to a Warrnambool and District league season in seven years.

Things are ticking over nicely. And at 5-0, South Rovers is looking invincible. But it’s keeping a lid on what it can achieve.

“I think we’re realistic. We’ve played five games, and I think both Timboon (Demons) and Dennington were underdone when we faced them,” leader Nathan Murphy said.

“The other three are teams probably in a similar boat to us in that they were just outside that finals spot in recent years.

“So we went into those games hoping to win them. The pleasing thing is that we are understanding the gameplan a lot more this season.

"We’re getting a lot of run from our younger guys and the older guys are providing a really steady hand for us.”

Rovers started the season emphatically, using rapid and direct ball movement to tear through Panmure by 73 points. Its smallest winning margin, 16 points, came against Timboon Demons in round three.

It was the prelude for a tough month of football.

After Russells Creek on Saturday, Rovers faces reigning premier Kolora-Noorat, undefeated Nirranda and ladder leader Old Collegians in the space of four weeks.

“But while it’s a bit cliche, we’re not really looking past Russells Creek this weekend,” Murphy said.

“We’d like to back ourselves in against any side. Nirranda and Old Collegians are obviously the favourites having been there and done it before but we’ll take confidence out of how we’ve played so far.

“Our reserves are playing well and our under 17.5s are always strong, so there’s a good feeling around the club.

“But there’s probably a good feeling around a lot of clubs and we’re under no illusions of the fact it takes a full 16 weeks of football to even make finals.”

Murphy has been working closely with Rovers’ new recruits and younger talent.

The Walter Oval-based club went on a calculated recruiting drive in the off-season, drawing back premiership juniors and former players to charge up its credentials.

And Murphy, a talented cricketer, believes the lure of home has bolstered Rovers’ stocks.

“I’m lucky enough to have a bit of a role with those younger fellas and some of the new guys. We’re catching up quite regularly to give feedback,” he said.

“I know all of the older guys are giving feedback off their own bat at various stages. It’s all about processes for us. We want to make sure we’re training hard and ticking off on the KPIs set out by (coach Adam Matheson) and (assistant coach Peter Timms).”