Meg Kelson, a bottom-age 17 and under player, will join promising youngsters Jess Hardiman and Isabella Rae as a regular in the Roosters' senior team this season. 

Coach Mandy van Rooy said Kelson, a mid-court player and goalie, was a smart netballer. 

"She creates a lot of space for her teammates and plays with maturity beyond her years," she said.

Van Rooy said mid-court player Katie Patterson was also stepping up from division one to play open this season. 

The third-year coach said her side was looking forward to its first round encounter at Gardens Oval. 

"I think there's a lot to be excited about," she said. 

"We've been lucky enough to keep most of our core group of girls." 

The Roosters mentor said she was excited by the prospect of her youngsters joining experienced players such as Eliza Dwyer, Marlie Boyd, Hannah Loveday and Annie O'Brien. 

"They're stepping into a side with great leaders in our group," she said. 

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Van Rooy said Hardiman, who has just come out of the 17 and under grade, would join Dwyer and Boyd under the goals this season. 

"She's extremely strong, nice and tall and she's very smart," van Rooy said. 

"She's cool, calm and collected.

"I can't wait to see her growth this season." 

Meanwhile, mid-courter Rae will play open and in the 17 and under grade this season. 

"She's speedy and very, very clever," van Rooy said. 

"She reads the play extremely well." 

The South Warrnambool coach said she hoped to go deeper into finals this year after being knocked out by Port Fairy in the first week last season. 

"Obviously we want to make finals again," she said. 

"We would like to finish a bit higher than fifth."

She said the loss to the Seagulls in the elimination final was a great lesson. 

"It showed us that it's a different ball game when it gets to finals," she said.

While the Roosters will have fresh faces in their line-up this Saturday, they will be without a couple of key players including 2018 Hampden league most valuable player Dwyer.

Mel Keath will be away and Ally O'Connor is dealing with a long-term injury. 

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