Surf Coast Suns

Another important step in strengthening football umpiring across the AFL Barwon region has been taken with the launch of a new satellite training venue at the Surf Coast Suns Football Netball Club, set to begin on Tuesday, May 6th. This initiative not only reduces travel barriers for umpires living on the Surf Coast and in surrounding areas by offering greater accessibility and convenience but also presents a valuable opportunity to grow umpire numbers in one of the region’s highly populated communities.

This Surf Coast location becomes the second satellite umpire training venue established in the past 12 months, following the successful launch of the Drysdale hub in 2024. It will provide a valuable boost for current umpires, offering a convenient, locally based facility that supports their ongoing development and weekly training needs. By reducing travel time and bringing sessions closer to home, the venue is set to encourage greater participation, create stronger community ties, and enhance overall engagement within the umpiring network.

The Surf Coast Suns venue has been strategically chosen to not only support the ongoing development of current umpires, but also to help drive recruitment and retention of new officials in one of the fastest-growing corridors in the region. With the Surf Coast and Armstrong Creek areas experiencing significant population growth — with Armstrong Creek alone projected to exceed 22,000 residents by 2026 — the number of local football teams and matches continues to rise. This increase in participation has created a pressing need for more umpires and establishing accessible training options like this is essential to meeting that demand and supporting the future of the game.

AFL Barwon is always looking to welcome new umpires, find out how to get involved by going tohttps://www.aflbarwon.com.au/umpire

The Surf Coast Suns have announced Trent Rogers as the inaugural Senior Men’s Football Coach.

Rogers brings an impressive coaching and playing background to the Suns as they prepare to enter the Bellarine Football Netball League in 2026. With a personal training and high-performance business on the Surf Coast, Rogers combines a deep understanding of fitness with his wealth of football experience.

His coaching journey includes three seasons at the helm of Airport West in the Essendon District Football League, culminating in a Division 1 premiership. He has also been part of the High Performance Coaching team with the Geelong Falcons and served as an assistant coach at South Barwon last season, where the club reached the Geelong FNL Grand Final.

In his new role, Rogers will focus on becoming familiar with Surf Coast’s junior talent and building a strong foundation for the club’s senior team as they transition to the BFNL.

The Suns are confident Rogers’ expertise, passion, and vision will guide the team to success in this exciting new chapter.