Battistello, who led Lake Wendouree to a Ballarat league premiership in 2010, is hopeful of experiencing the same success with the Roosters.

The former Victoria Country under 18 head coach revealed the key reasons behind his decisions to call Friendly Societies’ Park home.

“What really excited me about South Warrnambool is that historically they have always had really strong junior programs,” he said.

"And then with the seniors finishing fourth the last two years, we want to continue to improve and create that environment where that happens.

"And I saw the base they were coming off last year and felt that the playing group was fully committed and wanted to go again.

"Once I saw that sign I felt that I could contribute and try to help some of these players and people improve."

The 36-year-old said the club worked hard to put together a “coaching group” it believed would help set it up for prolonged success.

Battistello will be joined by assistant coaches Danny Finn, Brad Miller, Jarrod Thompson, Sam Stevens and Matt Monk who will also be a specialist ruck coach.

“The first priority was to get the right people around these kids and teach them the craft of the game and I think we have been able to do that," he said.

“The coaching staff that we have appointed, it is not just me, we certainly see it as a coaching group.

“We have got a long-term philosophy to develop our own and to do that you need good coaching and we have certainly got that in our ranks now.

“With the reserves just missing out (on premiership) and the under 18s winning it (premiership), there is huge potential for us as a coaching group to develop those types of players."

President Steve Harris said the club was thrilled to appoint Battistello as coach.

"Such experienced and high calibre people don’t come along very often,” he said.

“And we are delighted he and his family have decided to make South their home”.

Leigh Anderson, who led the reserves to a grand final this season, will again take the reigns in 2019.