Early last decade, Manilla Tigers captain Mitch Doring was watching footy at Scully Park when a beautiful young woman, Breanna Todd, walked in front of him with one of his best mates.

"I just did the old wolf whistle, as you do back in the day when you're a young fella," Doring said. "And it obviously caught her attention. And, yeah, just kind of went on from there.

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Doring contacted Todd on Facebook the same day he first saw her. They went on a few dates. "And we've never looked back," he said.

Born and bred in Tamworth, Doring, 24, moved to Manilla not long after meeting Todd to be with her.

Some seven years later and the couple are engaged and have two children, Thea Rose, 4, Mila Jane, 2.

"It's a beautiful spot out here and I really like it," Doring, a concreter, said. "Keeps you out of trouble, I suppose: a small town, can't do much."

The former Group 4 captain - who led the Tigers to the 2019 reserve-grade premiership after they sat out the 2018 season due to a lack of numbers - said a wedding date would soon be set.

"We're too busy having kids at the moment," he added.

Doring said the mother of his children was "amazing". "She's everything you look for. She's a good partner ... She's a beautiful girl. I'm definitely lucky."

Being a father at such a young age had matured him, he continued, adding that he "sacrificed a lot of things" for his children. Doing so made him "a better man".

"To be honest, it [having kids] wasn't one of those things that was really planned: it just sort of happened. I guess a lot of people wait until they're ready to have babies, but I don't believe you're ever ready."

Doring said he would "do anything for my kids". "There's pros and cons for having kids at a young age, and an old age. You've just gotta work with it and make it work. You know, that's life."

Group 4 clubs have until the end of January to submit their applications for the 2021 season, after the 2020 season was cancelled due to the coronavirus.

Doring said Group 4 wanted Manilla to move up to first grade.

"I'm not trying to think about it too much," the playmaker said. "Us boys out here, we're all for footy. But I've got a lot of old fellas in me side: they've had their years of first grade."

The Tigers, he continued, would "deal with it" if they were promoted.

"We don't really have the money to be in first grade ... But if it comes to that, I'm sure the boys would chuck on the boots and we'll prepare for it."