The 19-year-old gives the chat a rest with his old man - Russells Creek coach Peter - away from Mack Oval.

It's the first time the apprentice cabinetmaker has been coached by his father despite Peter's long involvement at Albert Park rival South Rovers, where Timms also played his junior footy.

"As soon as we get to training the family thing is sort of to the side," he said.

"Stink (Dylan Herbertson) has also helped me a fair bit, being an assistant coach. He has a lot of input and that makes it easier.

"We pretty much keep all the serious footy stuff at the footy which is good."

Timms, who won an under 17 best-and-fairest at South Rovers before moving to Creek for the coronavirus-wiped 2020 season, is still a work in progress.

He recognises his game is still adjusting to the senior level but is making the most of opportunities to improve in a side pushing for its first Warrnambool and District league finals berth in more than a decade.

"I'm working on the defensive side of my game. When I was playing junior footy I was more of an attacking sort of onballer and I think in the first couple of practice games I played, I was found out a bit," Timms said.

"I wasn't really manning up like I should've been. That defensive area of my game is something I'm working on."

Building his tank has also been a big focus.

"I did a lot of running in the off-season," he said.

"I tried to build myself into that winger sort of role. I know I'll probably have to do a couple more seasons in the midfield with the tough, in-and-under stuff.

"I've trained for that outside role and I've also been going down back to work on the defensive stuff more."

Creek, who recruited strongly in the off-season, is currently in fifth spot after five rounds. It will face finals fancy Merrivale on Saturday in a match which could prove vital in the context of the season. Timms said Creek's ability to gel as a team - more than half its side has changed since the 2019 season - had held it in good stead.

"We're still getting to know each other and our strengths and weaknesses," he said.

"I personally didn't think that gelling would come so early but that's the main thing I've noticed so far.

"Merrivale has had a good start to the season as well and it'll be a good hit-out for us. It'll be interesting to see how it goes this week - I think it'll be a good game."

Russells Creek has added Dylan Burns, Kyle Ryan, Jayden Millet, Xavier Short and Darcy Hoye to its side for the clash while Merrivale will welcome James Fary, Jyran Neave, Wil Flaherty and Tyler Stephens to its fold.

Jyran Chatfield, Luke Featherby, Harrison Kilpatrick, Jesse Cruickshank and Ollie Everall will miss for Creek.

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