WHILE football finals are still raging in the Wimmera, Taylors Lake has fired the first shot in the recruiting arena with the signings of Deek Roberts and Pat Purcell.
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Both are former members of the club and will serve as coaches for the senior side in 2014.
Roberts will take over as head coach and Purcell will be his assistant.
They are young but highly credentialed both have finished runner-up in the Dellar Family Medal count in recent years.
Roberts gained his first taste of senior coaching experience with Mallee Football League team Hopetoun this year, while Purcell also crosses back from Hopetoun.
After enduring one of the most trying years in its history, Taylors Lake hopes the signings will send a message to potential recruits that it is moving forward next season.
Roberts said he was excited to return to the Lakers after two years away and was committed to turning the club's fortunes around.
"It's been tough watching them and seeing the club down," he said.
"It's going to be a big challenge to try and build the club back up but I'm looking forward to trying to do that and hopefully be in the finals soon.
"Coaching the club for the first time is a bit more pressure on me and it's a new challenge, but I think it will work out well for both sides."
Roberts said there was interest from several other Horsham District Football League clubs and it was a tough decision to return to Taylors Lake, but ultimately the right one.
"I had a few other clubs wanting me to coach and I was thinking about it for a while," he said.
"I think it was definitely loyalty that brought me back to Taylors Lake though."
Lakers football director Jason Weir said the signings of Purcell and Roberts were a big boost for the club as it looked to get into full-recruiting mode.
He said the young coaches would help the Lakers attract other young talent to the club.
"When you talk to potential recruits, one of the first things they ask is 'who is your coach for next year?'," he said.
"Being younger coaches I think they'll have a fair bit of pull and might have some influence for getting some really good players."
Weir thanked outgoing coach Ian McCulloch for his efforts this season, when the Lakers were often hamstrung with injuries and player unavailability.
He said McCulloch would continue to be involved at the club despite stepping down as coach.
