KING Valley looks set to improve on this season's semi final finish after coach Jono Rea confirmed the club had landed five new recruits, including a former Ovens and Murray star.
Defender Adam Williams, a former Wodonga gun who played with Jerilderie this season, has committed to the Roos as has Beechworth premiership player Tim Scheuermann.
Wangaratta Rovers youngsters Jacob Schonafinger and Hayden Sims are also recent signings while Tim Allan has defected from Milawa to join the Roos.
"It's great news for us," Rea said.
"We had a couple stitched up before the end of the season so it shows we are on the improve.
"It means a lot to the club to be able to land a guy like Adam and the other guys as well because being out at King Valley it's difficult to recruit."
Williams was a star for Wodonga for the best part of a decade and was consistently named in the Ovens and Murray team of the year as part of the defence.
The hard-at-it star was heavily courted by several clubs after he left Wodonga but decided towards the end of the 2011 season that he would join the Roos from Jerilderie.
"To land Adam will give the guys at the club plenty of confidence," Rea said.
"He'll just lift the guys he plays around.
"He's a very fit guy so with the standard of the Ovens and King I'd like to see him up around the midfield.
"But at the end of the day we still have the option to put him back if need be."
Scheuermann also showed his commitment to the Roos by signing soon after the end of the season despite missing most of Beechworth's premiership defence.
Rea said Scheuermann was the perfect foil for number one ruckman Simon Hunter and he would also be used up forward.
"He had most of the year off," he said.
"He'll be more than a handy back-up ruckman to Simon Hunter who is coming back.
"Tim floated forward for Beechworth as well so he can do that."
While Williams and Scheuermann are the big signings, Rea was keen to promote the additions of Allan, Schonafinger and Sims saying their pace would be vital for the Roos to take the next step.
"We need a bit of pace to compete with the likes of Moyhu, Tarrawingee and Benalla," he said.
"We got showed up when we played those sides last year in that department.
"It's good to be able to get some quick wingmen/flanker types and it will help us to open games up on the bigger grounds."
King Valley will begin its pre-season campaign in early December.
By - JEREMY WILSON.
NEW ROOS: King Valley coach Jono Rea (front) is happy to have recruits (back L-R) Hayden Sims, Jacob Schonafinger, Tim Scheuermann, Tim Allan and Adam Williams on board for season 2012.
PHOTO: Cheryl Browne
Last Modified on 20/11/2011 09:40