Now 30, and a father of three after daughter Rosie's arrival last week, Stephenson is feeling fresh, when it comes to football at least.

In early 2018 a serious knee injury in a pre-season game at Culcairn cost him well over a year of footy.

In 2019 there wasn't much more than a handful of games, mostly in reserve grade, as he battled to come back.

The COVID layoff of 2020 might have been a blessing.

"It didn't feel quite right (in 2019) but I had the year off and it's like back to normal now. That's what it feels like anyway, fingers crossed," Stephenson says.

A premiership player at Coolamon in 2013, Stephenson's almost a 'full-blown local' at The Rock, having moved there with his family.

That's important, as the 'Pies hope to bounce back from a couple of seasons outside finals with four Canberra recruits adding to the positivity.

Joe Hancock, Dean Biermann and Joey Kerin were among nearly 30 players at a morning training at The Rock last Saturday.

Their fourth Canberra signing, exciting utility Riley Budd, was unable to make it but the quartet is keen for the Farrer League, and hopefully helping the club climb back up the ladder.

The Pies finished eighth and seventh in 2019 and 2018, with eight wins across the two seasons.

The recruits' first taste of training, watched by some keen Magpies supporters, added to their interest in country footy.

It adds to anticipation.

"It would be good to have a good year this year and hopefully the boys enjoy it, which I think they will," Stephenson said.

"It's a good bunch of blokes out here. We're looking forward to seeing what they can do. They'll be more than handy, anyway."

Stephenson is keen to have a crack at a midfield role.

He's dabbled there before, at Coolamon and Wodonga, but would love to cement a crucial spot at TRYC and play a key role in their 2021 campaign.

The Rock-Yerong Creek are also excited to secure key defender Dylan Cook who played close to a full season with Riverina League finalists Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong in 2019.

The signings are aiming to be in one or both of the TRYC's pre-season games against Lockhart on March 12 and Howlong on the 27th.

The Pies are also set to continue pre-season training with full club involvement in The Rock triathlon this Sunday, the second leg of the the Riverina Tri Series.

Stephenson chuckled and said Wagga Tigers did cross his mind as an option with brother Murray signing on as coach of the Riverina League club.

The pair played together in that Coolamon premiership of 2013. Ironically, it was a win over Collingullie, including current TRYC co-coach Brad Aiken.

But he's at home at Victoria Park, where Aiken and Heath Russell are preparing for their first season in charge.

"They're going very well I think," Stephenson said.

"There'll be no dramas there on the coaching side. It's just whether we can perform the way they want us to."

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