Officials said Tathra had been one of the most stable clubs since the end of the 2017 season with fewer players leaving the group. 

“There hasn’t been much movement at Lawrence Park in 2018,” a spokesman for SCAFL said. 

“The clubs outs in Jordan Rettke and Nick Forrester will be replaced by pick ups in Billy Stubbs and Nick Lazzaro, while Marcus Shaw will further bolster the club’s forward line.”

With the Sea Eagles already boasting Louis Coulton, Dean Gartside and Troy O’Loghlin up front the officials said Tathra would enhance an already strong attacking front line. 

However, the spokesman said it was a disappointing end to the 2017 season for the Sea Eagles, being quietly shuffled out of the finals against the Pambula Panthers and the club would look to go one better this year. 

“The Sea Eagles will be looking to put that behind them as they challenge last year’s grand finalists in Pambula and Narooma.”

Some of the rising talent in the Tathra camp will also include young guns Danyon Pilbeam and Shane Gartside who had impressive seasons last year with their growth to complement the likes of Tom Lipsham, Chris Dwyer and Richard Spink. 

The spokesman has tipped the Eagles to finish third, but said the club could shake up the top ranks. 

Tathra will also play home to a reserve grade outfit, but the Sea Eagles have been given the second round bye in the five-team draw meaning they won’t take the field until round three next weekend. 

Meanwhile, the Eaglettes will also be looking to build from the previous two seasons where they fell at the final hurdle to Eden in both 2016 and -17. 

The ladies clubs all enjoyed a round one bye and eight teams are now fit and ready to launch their campaigns. 

Club officials said the Eaglettes have kept a strong nucleus of the same players from the past season and would look to secure the flag this year. 

After coming so close in the last two seasons, the women’s outfit are hungrier than ever to taste grand final success and will not let anyone stand in their way. 

Cymmon Parker is leading the troops and – after missing the Nines draw to fundraise for Tathra – the team is eager to get on the park. 

The Eaglettes will test their mettle in a first-round outing against the Bermagui Breakers at Dickinson Oval on Saturday.  The match will go ahead at 1.10pm.