They are part of an ever decreasing group of players who have joined the Roosters without experience in the TAC Cup under-18 competition.

It is not an essential pathway.

Players are still plucked straight out of the VCFL just as Moloney (Lake Wendouree) and Stephenson (Redan) were.

However, it is evident by the new signings for the Selkirk Roosters this year that more and more graduates from the TAC Cup are putting up their hand to make it at the highest level in Victoria outside the AFL.

The Roosters remain the first choice for North Ballarat Rebels stepping up to the VFL.

Liam Hoy (Warrnambool), Oliver Tate (North Ballarat City), Chris Giampaolo (Horsham Demons), Jordan Dillon (South Warrnambool) and Ben Peters (Ballarat Swans) fit into this category among the 21 newcomers on the Roosters VFL list.

Tate and Peters each made an appearance with the Roosters last year as a 23rd player under a VFL-TAC Cup agreement allowing youngsters to be blooded in open age.

The TAC Cup influence does no stop there though.

Recruits have come via Geelong Falcons, Murray Bushrangers, Bendigo Pioneers, Gippsland Power, Western Jets and Sandringham Dragons.

Matt Tyler is North Ballarat's biggest name among recruits.

Tyler has returned to Victoria after a couple of seasons on the Brisbane Lions' list.

Originally from Rupanyup, Tyler was drafted from the Rebels, but did not get to play a fully fledged AFL match after battling a series of injuries.

Tyler has been earmarked to slot into centre half back.

Despite losing a sizeable group of premiership and leading players such as Brett Goodes, Tom Roach, Jacob Spolding, Michael Searl, Paul McMahon, Tristan Cartledge and Dean Chester, the Roosters

are largely looking to emerging existing talent to fill the void complemented by a new group of youngsters from North Melbourne as part of their AFL alignment.

NORTH BALLARAT will have its first look at recruits under full match conditions against Werribee in a VFL practice match (seniors and reserves) at Eureka Stadium Ballarat today.