Many thought the Magpies' appearance on the big stage was ahead of schedule.

They stumbled in 2019, failing to make finals, and were denied a chance, due to the coronavirus pandemic, to made amends last year.

To some extent they flew under the radar entering 2021. Not anymore.

Camperdown has asserted itself as a finals contender.

Solid wins against Terang Mortlake and Cobden helped them ease into the season before an impressive display, which ultimately fell short, against flag fancy South Warrnambool.

Another test awaits in North Warrnambool Eagles at Leura Oval on Saturday.

Magpies coach Neville Swayn believes the club's location enables it to "fly under the radar".

"We can probably get away with it a bit - we're not in Warrnambool, we're not just out of Warrnambool," he said.

"I think Portland and Hamilton are the same, it's just natural that we do fly under the radar. We probably prefer it that way. We just like to do our work; actions speak louder than words."

Camperdown still boasts half the side which went agonisingly close to Koroit in the 2018 decider.

Yes, the Pies have lost some talent too - think Nick Bateman, Sam Cunnington, Phil Carse and Luke Mahony - but players such as Jack Williams, Jason Robinson, Riley Arnold, Will Rowbottom and Brendan Richardson are in the ideal age bracket for football success.

Inclusions, such as GWV Rebels-listed Hamish Sinnott, former NAB League player Judah Dundon, forward Bayley Thompson and youngsters Sidney Bradshaw, Angus Gordon and Zach Sinnott, are up to the task.

The biggest addition has been Sam Gordon who has returned to his home club. We all know key forwards don't grow on trees.

It's at the other end of the ground where Camperdown has excelled early in the season.

Defensively the Magpies are the stingiest in the competition, conceding an average of 48 points a game in the first three rounds.

The back line boasts experienced heads in Williams and Robinson - both playmakers - and the hard-to-beat Richardson. Throw in the emerging Angus Gordon and Sidney Bradshaw and it's a handy defensive unit.

There is work to be done up forward - they're averaging 62 points for a match - but offence is often built on defensive strength.

"You go back to 2018 and we weren't a high-scoring side," he said.

"It's something we've identified - to get bigger scores. Sam straightens us up but you can't just rely on Sam every week."

Swayn would like to see more players "chip in" on the scoreboard but believes the team is getting chances in front of goal.

It's kicked 7.19, 11.17 and 5.12 so far.

"We're getting looks at it. Every week we're kicking more points than goals so I think we're on the right track, we're just not converting," he said.

Swayn believes Bayley Thompson, Zach Sinnott and his younger brother Hamish Sinnott, a teenager who covers the ground with ease, can become consistent goal-kickers.

"We have onballers who can run forward too; we'd like to get some goals out of those," he said.

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