The Falcons re-commence pre-season training tonight (Wednesday) with a series of strong recruits led by former West Adelaide player Myles Krakouer, former Old Haileybury 'hardnut' Tom Chisholm and key forward Steven Tolongs who kicked 44 goals playing in the Victorian Amateur Football Association with Ormond last year.

The Falcons have also inked former Port Melbourne player Jacob Castricum and mid-year signing Jake Mullett as a permanent signings for 2012.

Castricum played nine games last season and Josh Bolton returns after missing the majority of the year through injury.

Falcons coach Jon Knight said the club had also retained the majority of its senior players from 2011, including veteran Paul Tredrea.

Knight said Castricum had also assisted the Falcons by recommending the club to some current Port Melbourne players, with three or four listing the Falcons as their home club for 2012.

In VFL, players list a suburban club as their 'home club' allowing them to play for the club when not selected for their VFL side.

"Jake told a few mates about our club so we called them and got them involved over here and they seemed to enjoy themselves," Knight said.

While moving into the top-three teams will be a difficult task, Knight said his young side were good enough to make the leap.

"We have such a young list that the players are easy to motivate. We have built good relationships between the coaches, who have all returned for this year, and the players.

"This year we need to stay as structured as we were on defence last year while implementing a few things on offence."

Knight was also impressed with several of his players who spend the majority of their off-season travelling through America and South America.

"Those boys who went away must have stopped at every gym they passed along the way because they have come back fit and a bit bigger," he said.