Tigers ruckman Manny Sandow and Krepp are employed at Bunnings in Warrnambool.

"I work with Nathan pretty much everyday," Sandow told The Standard.

"As an assistant coach I'd be mad not to drop the word in and get him across."

Krepp is a proven goal-kicker.

He booted 37, 44 and 54 goals respectively in his past three complete seasons.

He was restricted to five senior games and 10 goals last year and the 2020 season was then aborted due to coronavirus restrictions.

"We don't want to pigeon-hole someone into a position, so there will be that flexibility to get him in with the mids as well because he does have a pretty good tank and a bigger body," Sandow said.

"But I'd say he'd do most of his work forward. He is a tough match up. The poor bloke has been playing as a key forward and he's lucky to be six foot.

"I think if you could get him on a mid-sized backman, just his body work and footy smarts, he can use them and hopefully we can isolate that as a team."

Krepp joins defender Jack Gleeson, who returns to the club as a Koroit premiership player, as Merrivale recruits.

Merrivale started pre-season last week and is training Mondays and Wednesdays.

New coach Josh Sobey has also "organised a couple of fun Friday nights".

"We're working with the surf lifesaving club for one of them, just fun things to get everyone around each other," Sandow said.

"I can't wait. You were trying to organise a drill and you're looking back at the restrictions (thinking) 'can I do it?'.

Sandow, who returned to Merrivale from Hampden league club South Warrnambool in the off-season, said it was pleasing state government COVID-19 restrictions had eased and clubs could soon reintroduce contact drills.

He said it was pleasing to be "back to somewhat normal".

"It's been a bit of a nightmare," he said of the restrictions.

Sandow, a Maskell Medallist at Hampden league level, is re-acquainting himself with his Merrivale clubmates.

"I am still meeting some of the younger fellas who were about 12 and 14 when I was back there," he said.

"I am still introducing myself and getting names right but it's been pretty good."

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