Joshua Hovarth, now in his third year as club president, and vice-president Shane Roche say they are looking to strengthen ties with local Aboriginal families with the aim of introducing young athletes to the game of AFL.

"We are planning to conduct an indigenous family day prior to the start of the junior competition in April for both boys and girls," said Hovarth.

"At the same time the club is also looking at working closely with the Marlins senior players in the hope of building better pathways for our juniors. These relationships are very important to our club's long-term future but for now season 2021 is about rebuilding after the COVID interruptions of last season."

Hovarth said that the club would be fielding 10 teams in 2021 from under 9s to under 17s, including three girls teams in the under 13, 15s and 17s.

"With the growing number and development of female players we see ourselves as being a genuine 'family club' open to all comers. Our numbers in the girls under 13 age group have exploded while the under 15 girls are determined to bounce back from their narrow one-point loss in last year's grand final."

Roche said that the emergence of Bay products Lisa Steane and Pippa Smyth to the ranks of the GWS Giants in recent years had done wonders for the game in Port Stephens. "Both girls had come through our ranks before moving to Sydney and the television exposure they receive has given our young girls something to aspire to. They are great role models and have returned to the Bay to offer advice and training skills."

Similarly in the men's, former Sydney Swan Craig Bird, who is backing up for another season with the Marlins in 2021 has become a major drawcard.

For the under seven year olds, Auskick will be back in April each Sunday at Dick Burwell Oval from 9-10am. The club has introduced beach Auskick to be held at Fingal Beach for four weeks, starting on Friday, February 26, from 5.30 to 6.30pm.

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