Shannen Lange, Dylan Conway and Billy Lloyd join Ryan Pendlebury as prize recruits from the Borough.

The full-time signings reward the work Pritchard, who was appointed coach midway through the 2018 Ballarat Football League season, put into building relationships with Port Melbourne players while he was a runner at the club and since taking on Melton South.

Pendlebury was an early signing as assistant coach, with Lange, Conway and Lloyd icing on the cake.

Lange had Melton South as his home club last season, although he did not play there, while Conway has played a handful of games with the Panthers over the past two years.

Lange arrives at the Panthers as one of the VFL's elite, with Pritchard believing he will be at the top of the BFL talent pool as a midfielder/onballer.

A 2017 premiership player with Port Melbourne, the 26-year-old Lange was equal fourth in the JJ Liston Trophy last season and named in the VFL team of the year.

Lange started his VFL career with Bendigo Gold and went on to play 100 games with the Borough.

On announcing his retirement from the VFL late last year, Lange believed 2019 was his best in the competition.

Conway leaves the VFL after two flags - 2015 with Williamstown and 2017 with Port Melbourne.

He will be a major asset up forward for the Panthers, having kicked 20 goals - including a bag of 10 against Ballarat - in four BFL appearances in 2018 and 17 in the same number of games last season.

Lloyd is originally from Horsham.

The younger player of Sydney Swans best and fairest Jake Lloyd, he played with the North Ballarat Rebels in the TAC Cup under-18s in 2015 before trying his luck with North Adelaide in the SANFL.

He moved to Port Melbourne in 2018.

Pritchard said the pre-season was progressing well for Melton South with the addition of the quality VFL-epreienced players, Daniel Walker from Melton and the return of Michael Callus after two years with Melton Centrals in the Riddell District league.

He also expects to have talented youngster Aaron Clarke, who is on Coburg's VFL list, more often this year after stepping up from the NAB League under-18s.

Pritchard said the addtions should make the Panthers (last in 2019) more competitive - providing more enjoyment for supporters.