The Lions' focus on building a sustainable Warrnambool and District league club is working a treat.

And there'll be some young faces for fans to watch out for this Saturday when the Lions host Nirranda at Walter Oval in round one.

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McNaughton, who plays half-back, is part of a graduating class of Lions.

It's a talented crop as many played in the club's under 18 grand final loss to Merrivale in 2019.

"It's good to come up with all your mates, that's one of our biggest things here, is that there's really good mateship," McNaughton said.

"Everyone gets along, all the younger kids and all the older guys are really just clicking.

"All the younger kids just coming up together really helps with our footy and with playing seniors as well because it's not just a big thing on you as there are four or five other guys doing the exact same thing."

The 18-year-old also praised the club's mentors.

"The coaching, with all the footy knowledge, is really switched on," he said.

"And I suppose they've given us a lot of opportunities in juniors and that's given us a clear path to step straight into the senior side."

McNaughton played four senior matches in 2019 as a 17-year-old.

He said about half-a-dozen of his under 18 teammates got an opportunity as well.

Josh Heard was one of them.

He's keen to get back on the park this season and have another crack at senior footy.

The 20-year-old got injured during his senior debut in 2019.

"I played one senior game, didn't play much of it, I actually got knocked out - out cold," he said.

He didn't get to sing the song when the team won as he was in hospital.

Like McNaughton, he's thrilled to see players sticking around the club.

"I reckon it's really good, there are a lot of blokes in the seniors who came up in the last premiership era (2007) - there are a lot players that stuck around," he said.

"Now it's the same with us with getting players coming back, we've got eight to 10 (junior players) that graduated who are still here.

"It makes you want to play with your mates a bit more and you put in a bit extra when you've got mates out there - you'd do anything for them."

Jack Dowd, Bailey Ross, Patrick Drake, Daniel Dobson, Indy Shanahan, Jaxen Dalton, Cameron Stuart, Sam Hodgins and Harry Boyd are among the other graduating Lions on board.

It's an impressive feat given how hard it can be to retain players in that age group due to competing commitments such as work and university.

It's something coach Adam Matheson is proud of.

He knows the young players are the future of the club.

South Rovers is also eager to reward those who stick around.

Matheson highlighted the club's senor pathway program.

Players get presented to the club after their first senior game.

There are also incentives along the way at milestones such as five senior games and 50 matches.

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