"It's really important in a time of unpredictability to provide stability around the club," he said.

"I think we've got all our football coaches, juniors and seniors, lined up for next year which is really good.

"That provides stability for our players."

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Recruit Kurt Lenehan has also signed as a playing-assistant coach for 2021.

Lenehan crossed from Hampden league outfit Warrnambool for this season but has yet to play a game for the Lions.

Matheson said the club noticed Lenehan's leadership skills during the 2020 pre-season.

The senior coach said the club had a dozen junior players graduating to senior level.

He said it was a boon they had all committed for 2021.

"It's a sign of a good culture that you've got young kids wanting to stay and provide stability for the club," he said.

"It's great to have recruits but you can't rely on recruits year-in-year-out."

He said the Lions had no new signings but had recruited well for the 2020 season.

Matheson said it looked as though the playing group would remain the same for next year.

"We'll look at potentially adding a couple more to the list," he said.

The South Rovers mentor said there would otherwise be a focus on placing faith in young players.

Matheson, who has led the Lions since 2016, cited unfinished business as his reason for another year.

"You didn't get the opportunity to put the team you put together for 2020 on the park," he said.

"There's the opportunity to see all the work you put in pre-season come through in 2021."

South Rovers finished seventh in 2019 with eight wins and eight losses.

Matheson believes his team can push for finals next year.

"We would have been aiming for finals football in 2020, that doesn't change in 2021," he said.

But he added other WDFNL clubs had recruited well and he was expecting 2020 to be one of the "most competitive seasons for a long time in the District league".

He anticipates it will carry over into 2021.

The Warrnambool College school teacher praised the club's committee for its work throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

"On behalf of the players, I want to give a huge shout-out to our hard-working committee," he said.

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