The Lions struggled during the 2016 Mininera and District Football League season and only managed two wins, but Bell said he expects a big difference in 2017.

"If you look at the majority of the guys we have recruited, they are all young,” he said.

“It allows us to mould them to fit what we want while looking to the future.”

The club has signed seven former Ararat Rats players, with former Stawell Warrior Tom McCord and former Ararat Eagle Jarrod Potter joining them at Great Western.

Great Western completed five weeks of preseason training before the Christmas break with a focus on ball work and getting straight into the game plan.

Bell said the team will have a different plan with to improve the Lions’ on-field performances immediately.

"They got belted a fair bit last year so if we can bring in the losing margins and peg a few extra wins from last year then that will be a good start,” he said.

“The game will be based around good ball movement rather than relying on winning the contested possessions and holding on to the ball for longer by making better decisions.

"It is more about developing, than winning and that will be the clear focus.

“It will be about how we go about it, rather than how much we lose by that I will be focusing on during the game reviews this season.”

The new coach has also had a focus on boosting the morale around the club and making football fun again.

He said he is also adding elements of accountability to the group during the preseason.

"We have been doing one session per week with the group and then they do one away from the group,” he said.

“They have to do a 30 minute session of boxing, running or cycling and upload a clip online so we can all keep each other accountable.”

Bell said the club is close to announcing more player signings for the club ahead of return to the track on January 31.

“It will be good to get back on the track, it will start at 6pm,” he said.