The two close friends will reunite at Kalkee, having played several seasons together with Taylors Lake and with Hopetoun, before both moving to different clubs in the Wimmera league.

Purcell most recently was a playing-coach at Donald in the North Central football league, while Roberts played with Horsham.

Roberts has effectively re-signed with the club, although he is yet to play a game with the Kees due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Former Kalkee and Dimboola utility Matt Magee is also on board, while Stuart Farr will return as head coach.

Magee previously played under Farr in 2013 at Dimboola as the Roos claimed a drought-breaking Wimmera league premiership.

Purcell, 28, said family and the chance to reunite with Roberts were the main two reasons behind his decision.

"My wife was looking to get back into netball - she hasn't played in four or five years since she had kids - and her sister is at Kalkee," Purcell said.

"It's a bit easier on the family than travelling out to Donald all the time, and having best mate Deek there as well is great.

"My young fella is going to play minis with a cousin out at Kalkee as well, so it all just sort of worked out really nicely."

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Purcell said he was also excited to play under Farr, a renown Wimmera football icon.

With Roberts, Purcell, Hamish Exell, Stuart and Zavier Hobbs leading the charge, the Kees could lay reasonable claim to having the best midfield in the competition next season.

Kalkee president Heath Martin said it was a big boost after the side narrowly missed out on finals in 2019.

"It's three good, experienced inclusions, while we've still got plenty of homegrown talent which will be great to work with these more experienced guys," he said.

"We're also going to be putting a fair bit of emphasis in our juniors coming up as well this year, with the likes of Jordan Motton, Jonah Connelly and Lachy Pfeiffer.

"It's hopefully going to be an exciting year."

Kalkee have also secured Josh 'Rock' Beddison as under-17s coach and Dan Seymour as under-14s.

More broadly, Mr Martin said he hoped the community could rally behind the football-netball club after a difficult year.

"There's no doubt that a lot of clubs have done it tough in the past 12 months," he said.

"All I can ask, and not just for our club, but for supporters and members of all clubs, is for people to really step up and take on some roles, to help ease the burden for the other club members.

"Volunteers are really vital, especially now."

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