"It is a massive boost for the club, with important exposure. From what they tell me, it's going to be huge."

While the Sea Eagles made the elimination final last year, the club has never won a senior flag since joining the Alberton league in 1996. Its last premiership was in 1986, in the defunct Bass Valley league.

Soumilas, who led Drouin to Gippsland league grand finals in 2010 and 2011, has relocated to the tiny South Gippsland town of Kongwak with his wife and children and is impressed with the Sea Eagles' environment.

"It is a welcoming and a family orientated club," he said.

"We ran a session focusing on club culture and I can tell everyone is really committed to improving the club, taking the extra step to make it a good professional club."

He says the drop in the standard of football doesn't bother him.

"The level is obviously a bit different. But there are still plenty of talented footy players, it is just that the entire playing group isn't as serious as what the Gippsland clubs were."

Soumilas is thriving in a coaching role that practically fell in his lap after the appointed coach, Lance Oswald, was forced to relocate for work.

"We have tried to keep hold of as many as we can, with a conscious decision to not spend up big on recruits," Soumilas said.

"That way, we get more commitment from locals who invest a bit more time in the club via functions and that sort of thing."

Adam Cross (200 games) and Tim Thornby (150 games) are two much-loved locals who will celebrate milestone games in Saturday's season opener.

"From my short exposure to them, they are the ultimate club guys. They live and breathe the club and they know how to play the game as well.

"There is an added incentive for Soumilas to perform on Saturday, too.

"I have a ton of friends coming over, so there is pressure on me."