McRoberts said that while things were not `rosy', the Eagles would battle on with limited numbers.
''There has always been an issue with numbers in the seniors and reserves,'' he said.
''This year it has been disappointing in that we had players commit at the start of the season and now they have left to go to other clubs.''
Concerns for the reserves' side were raised when several key senior players announced their retirement or plans to leave the Eagles.
McRoberts said the club had been forced to embark on some frantic recruiting ahead of its first round match in the Lexton Plains Football League.
He said the recruiting efforts of reserves' coaches Dan O'Connell and Paul Bulger had paid off and the club was now confident of fielding teams in the senior, reserve, under 17 and under 14 competitions.
''There was a moment there where it was looking a bit bleak for the reserves but we have resolved all that now,'' McRoberts said.
''We have rallied around and got a few more signings so it's not all doom and gloom.''
A recruit from Castlemaine and several former players will help to bolster the teams, however the Eagles will still rely on `fill ins' throughout the season.
McRoberts said the club would now work hard to secure its future.
''We will get ourselves better organised for next year. There is definitely work to be done,'' he said.
''The most disappointing thing from our point of view is that we have a core group of players and they have to watch new guys coming and going every year.
''It's hard to develop and improve when there are so many changes.''
The Ararat Eagles will play an intraclub match at Alexandra Oval tomorrow. The game will kick off at 11am, with all interested players invited to attend.