The Farrer League is set for its most competitive season in years and North Wagga ensured it will be among the challengers with five new recruits.

The Saints have landed the signatures of Oakley and fellow well-travelled tall Chris Willis.

They have also added Angus McRae (Temora), Tom Gaynor (Turvey Park) and Lachie Robertson (Lake Cargelligo) to their first grade list.

Oakley is expected to line up in the ruck or at centre-half-forward for the Saints and spent the 2013 season with Nhill in the Wimmera League.

He has also spent time in the AFL Sydney and Victorian Amateurs.

Oakley will travel from Sydney with his wife to link with North Wagga,.

Saints co-coach Chad Hamblin is thrilled to welcome Oakley to the club.

“I don’t know a hell of a lot about him, he’s a bit of an unknown to be honest,” Hamblin said.

“He’s a ruck, centre-half-forward type player. He’s pretty tall, a little bit older but from all reports goes really well.

“He is going to travel with his wife, whose a really good netballer and she’s going to play at the club as well, which is good for the girls as well.”

Oakley is a 198-centimetre athletic ruckman, who works in the fitness industry and had former AFL boss Andrew Demetriou as a client.

The Saints will suddenly have plenty of big man stocks to compliment their sharp running game.

Oakley and Willis will rotate between the ruck and forward, helping Troy Curtis in attack.

Hamblin said the recruits are exactly what the Saints were after,

“We earmarked we needed at least one or two talls and also some expereince,” he said.

“These two are tall blokes and they also bring that experience as well.

“They’ll add another key target to help out Troy Curtis, who has had to run the show on his own the last couple of years.”