Terang Mortlake export Scott Carlin and South Warrnambool talent Emmanuel Ajang will strive to earn their Tiger stripes when the seven-round, eight-team competition kicks off on August 1.

They join fellow Hampden league exports Keegan Gray and Tylar Watts (Portland), Toby Mahony (Camperdown) at Werribee.

Werribee will compete against Box Hill, Coburg, Frankston, Port Melbourne, Sandringham, Casey and Williamstown for the premiership.

AFL rules, introduced for 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions, have forced Geelong, Footscray, Collingwood, North Melbourne, Richmond and Essendon out of the state league for the time being.

Ajang, entering his first season in the VFL, said the shortened season would make it hard to push for a spot in Werribee's best 22.

But the former GWV Rebels defender will accept the challenge.

"I am just happy we still have an opportunity this year," he said. "I need to keep training with the intensity I was (pre-COVID) and keep doing all those little things."

Ajang, who is aligned to Geelong West, said it was "disappointing" the season was delayed but conceded it was an unusual circumstance.

"I don't know how I took it at first. I guess it was a bit weird potentially not playing any sports this year," he said.

"It got to the point last month where I was expecting there to be no season but I just tried to keep positive."

Carlin, who is entering his second season in the VFL, played three senior matches in 2019. "I think it's great it's going ahead, at least we get a few games," he said.

"Hopefully I can crack in (to the side)."

Carlin, who is aligned to Ballarat league club Lake Wendouree, said he would welcome the AFL-linked teams' return next season.

"It would've been good to have those teams in it competing, they are pretty handy teams and it's good to play against players like that," he said.

The VFL will feature a three-week finals series with its grand final on Saturday, October 10.

SIGN UP FOR BEST ON GROUND, THE AFL NEWSLETTER YOU CAN'T MISS: Straight into your mailbox every Thursday before the first bounce