Last year’s senior captain Luke Taylor said the club had already been getting about 50 players to pre-season training sessions. 

“We’ve been training Tuesdays at the ground and Fridays at surf club averaging about 50 people each night and to get those numbers at this time of year is exceptional,” Taylor said. 

The club has also added an under 16s contingent, which Taylor said was down to the hard work of Dave Howard and Greg Coman. 

He said the 16s would help numbers and also future-proof the club as young players progress up the ranks. 

“Tathra has struggled over the last five or six years in cementing juniors, but thanks to the massive amount of work from Dave and Greg the future is looking really bright now.”

In the seniors and women’s contingents, the club is firing on all cylinders with the Sea Eagles maintaining a core of their previous players. 

“We’ve been really lucky over the last decade to keep a core group of premiership players and maintain that foundation in our seniors,” Taylor said. 

This year will be no different with plenty of familiar faces around the club, but Taylor said the Sea Eagles were also excited by new and emerging players stepping into the ranks. 

Similarly, the Sea Eaglettes have also kept a core group of returning players, while both the women’s and senior squads will blood some new talent in the 2018 season. 

“It’s all off and flying,” Taylor said. 

The club hasn’t named a captain yet, but Taylor said the club was in safe hands with the coaching roles finalised. 

Kev May will take on the leadership role with the support of Mark Coulton. 

“Kev’s knowledge of the game is second to none and he’s been a head-coach or around the bench since I’ve been at the club, to have him at the helm alongside Mark is a massive plus for us.

“But I’m also excited to see what Mark can bring this year, he has a lot of strategy and is strong with one-on-ones with the players.”

The Sea Eagles are also excited about a special meet and greet opportunity with GWS Giants players next Wednesday. 

The Giants will be in town for a barefoot bowls meet and greet from 5.30pm until 8.30pm at the Tura Beach Country Club. 

“It’s a big plus for all the clubs in the region when we see that AFL presence in the area,” Taylor said. “I think all clubs would be making their presence felt on the day because the more we can get the AFL on board the more kids we can get involved.”