The pair comes from a strong sporting lineage.

Dad Mick is the Tigers' football games record-holder and Mum Kerri played netball until she was 53.

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Then there's older brother Harris, who went through the NAB League program with GWV Rebels, had a stint on Geelong's VFL list and now plays for Leopold.

Toby reckons his dad and brother might be the most naturally gifted of the Jennings' clan but rates his mum, who is now 55 and only stopped playing two years ago, as the hardest worker.

"Harris has always been a good runner, a pretty good swimmer," Toby said.

"I reckon Mum would have (been the hardest worker) in her time. She still gets out and does a fair bit of running."

Toby watched his dad play a few matches late in his career while Kerri, who was a regular in the Tigers' A grade side, played alongside Millie before she retired.

"I had her when I was 40 so I never thought I would play with her and to play with her in A1 for Portland in 2019 was just huge," Kerri said.

"I'd played with my mum (Pam Taylor) and two sisters (Vicki and Sue) and it's such a special thing to do."

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Millie, 15, and Toby, 18, are carving their own paths too.

Millie, who goes to Hamilton's Monivae College, joined Koroit in 2021, immediately earning court time in the Saints' top-grade.

Toby has been in the Tigers' best in four of their first six matches.

Millie is playing midcourt for Koroit coach Danielle McInerney who, along with ex-mentor Stacey O'Sullivan, was integral in getting her to wear red, white and black.

"They've coached me at Hampden (level) and they're really good coaches," she said.

Millie is part of the Western Region academy and would love to make the Victorian under 17 state team.

In the meantime Millie, who prides herself on her intercept work, just wants to contribute for the Saints.

"I am happy playing where I am but I'll see are far as I can take it," she said.

As for playing as long as her mum?

"Wouldn't have thought so," Millie laughed.

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But Millie, who also plays basketball for Portland Coasters, knows advice is always close at hand "before every game".

"She doesn't listen to me," Kerri joked.

Toby, who is a first-year apprentice sign writer, is playing as a midfielder-forward for the Jarrod Holt-coached Portland.

"Dad played in the midfield as well and Harris is up at Leopold now and he's going all right," he said.

"I played all my junior footy with Harris so it was watch and learn and I did a fair bit of training with him as well."

Toby is focusing on "being clean with the footy" and making the most of his disposals.

Building strength is a key for him too.

"Playing against senior players is a big step up from the under 18s and being able to match that physicality in there (is important)," he said.

Portland, which awaiting a state government all-clear after a coronavirus lockdown to resume its senior season, sits fourth on the ladder with a 4-2 win-loss record.

"It's a bit of a shock to most of us, we probably didn't expect to go so well," Toby, who is among a strong contingent of players aged 22 and under in the Tigers' side, said.

"Jarrod's been really good. He stuck by over us over the COVID break (in 2020 too).

"I reckon all the boys got around him and have really followed what he's trying to drill into the club.

"It's been really positive for the club."

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