With four rounds remaining in the home and away season, the Roos are a game outside the top five and locked in a four-way battle for fifth spot with Kyneton, Castlemaine and Gisborne.

While the Roos are still committed to fighting for the last spot in the finals, they are also looking ahead to next year in announcing midfielder Mitch Hough as a playing assistant coach.

Hough returned to the Roos mid-season this year from Myrtleford and has committed to the club again next year.

“There are a number of avenues you can go down with a playing assistant coach and what we wanted was someone who is consistent in his performance and can lead on the field and Houghy certainly does both of that,” said Kangaroo Flat coach Jason Stevens, who was last week reappointed for a third season next year.

“He has a good contact base and is really respected by our group, so we think he’s going to be really good in the role for us next year.”

The Roos have also re-signed co-captains Corey Greer and Nick Lang, who last week played his 150^th senior game for the club.

“It’s great to have both on board. Both have had good years, even though Corey had a significant lay-off with injury, and they are both progressing well in captaining the side,” Stevens said.

Midfielder Simon Davies and defender Liam Murphy are others who have also re-committed to the Roos for 2016.

On-field, Kangaroo Flat has lost its past four games, during which its percentage has dipped from 81.7 to 71.3 – clearly the worst percentage of the four teams still vieing for fifth spot.

For the second week in a row the Roos will play on the QEO on Saturday when they take on South Bendigo, which is also in a rut, having lost its past seven games.

“This Saturday is vitally important for us. We’re confident we’ll put out a reasonable side, but we need to step up and take on the challenge,” Stevens said.

“We know South Bendigo will see this as an opportunity for them to get another win under their belt, so we have to be ready for that and play the footy we know we’re capable of.”

The Roos have a new president in Greg McClure, who took over last week from Paul Brooks.

Among the projects in the works at the Roos’ home ground, Bendigo Mazda Oval, is a new electronic scoreboard, which is expected to be operating for the club’s last two games, as well as new social rooms for next year.

Saturday’s game at the QEO starts at 2.20pm.