Ballarat used its Sunday "friendly'' against Geelong club Leopold to unveil its newest batch of recruits.

Former Bendigo Pioneer Chris Prockter, recruited from Central Murray club Tyntynder, impressed up forward for the Dahlsens Swans after a scratchy start, while fellow recruits Leigh Millard from Golden Rivers FL club Murrabit

and Luke Fisher from SMW Rovers (Mininera District FL) were also among the better players, Swans coach Shaun O'Loughlin said.

"(Prockter) played OK on the weekend. I think all the boys were a bit scrappy, but he did all right.

"He's a good size, a typical key position player but also quite mobile. He's played a bit of TAC Cup as well but not played a lot of senior footy yet. But I think he'll be a pretty good player for us.''

Prockter, Millard and another recruit who did not play, Timothy Horan from Hampden league club Cobden, attend university in Ballarat.

O'Loughlin said the Swans pursued Prockter after other students from the club heard the former TAC Cup player would be attending the University of Ballarat.

"Tim and Leigh were a bit different,'' O'Loughlin explained. "They've both been at uni for a couple of years. They have trained with us during the week then returned home to play at their old clubs. We've allowed them to do

that for a couple of seasons and I guess it has worked in our favour.

"We have worked hard to recruit new players to the club. It has been a big job but we've done OK.

"We have also worked hard to keep our young guys at the club. We're mindful of putting effort into our young players to give them every opportunity to press for seniors as well.''

The newcomers, along with the returning Wil McGregor, are ready-made replacements for premiership players Nigel Otto and Tristan May, who are travelling overseas.

Ballarat's other recruit, former East Point prime mover Shane Hutchinson, is on track for a mid-year debut for the club following a knee injury.

"The knee injury (recovery) is where he thought it'd be at this stage,'' O'Loughlin said.

"(Hutchinson) has done a lot of work but he's had a few setbacks. But it's been great with his professionalism and he's been a huge bonus on the training track. We won't rush him. When he does get back he will certainly be a bonus," O'Loughlin said.