And the likes of Jock Heeney, Sam McNaughton and Tom McCoullough are looking to repay the faith as the club looks to bridge the gap between them and the top three in the second half of the season.

Heeney and McNaughton, both 17, were part of The Riverina Anglican College's all-conquering Carroll Cup side this year, but their football education has gone up a notch at Tigerland.

They've been rewarded for embracing coach Murray Stephenson's three-times-a-week training regime with regular gigs in the midfield rotation.

The fourth-placed Tigers (4-3) will look to build a buffer zone between them and the rest of the chasing pack when they host fifth-placed Collingullie-Glenfield Park (3-4) at Robertson Oval on Saturday.

A win would be a major step toward locking down a finals berth, and Stephenson has backed his young brigade to help lead the way.

"Sam and I have played a lot of school footy together so it helps knowing each other's games a bit," Heeney said.

"I think it's great that Murray's put some faith in the younger guys to stand up and do well at the club, instead of bringing in some paid player.

"Murray always comes up to us before games saying that you're not just a role player in the team, you can contribute and puts a lot of belief in you.

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"I'm working on taking the game on that tad bit more and getting around the contest. We're working well as a team and bouncing off each other.

"You can't be satisfied when you're fourth on the ladder, but we're building I think and the best is yet to come."

McNaughton said the step up in training had been a tough test, but one he's embraced.

"If the coaches see you're putting in at training and trying your hardest, you'll get something out of it," he said.

"The physicality of first grade and backing up to train three times a week has probably been the biggest thing, it's been my hardest year of playing footy.

"I debuted two years ago and didn't get a game last year when the O and M boys came over and play, but this year I was focused on getting into first grade."

McCoullough, 19, has played a handful of roles this year but has settled mostly in the forward line as Stephenson looks to settle on his best mix inside 50.

"I've played some new positions but mostly forward. We've got a fair few of us young boys in there and we feel part of the team," he said.

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