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 Regional General Manager Lisa Patterson highlighted the importance of the new facility,

“This new satellite umpire training base is a crucial step in our ongoing work to grow umpiring in the region. It strengthens our ability to support, develop and retain umpires by making training more accessible and aligned with the needs of our expanding community across the Surf Coast region.”

We thank the Surf Coast Suns for their progressive and open-minded support of this important initiative. We encourage anyone aged 13 and above to get involved — there’s never been a better time to pick up the whistle.”

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

Surf Coast Suns’ inaugural game is sure to attract plenty of attention, an event a decade in the making.

By Ben Andonoudis

Torquay will become a two-team town on Easter Saturday.

At Banyul-Warri Fields, a new force in the Bellarine Football Netball League emerges when the Surf Coast Suns face off in their senior debut against new cross-town rivals Torquay.

The senior debut is the culmination of a decade of hard work, with the club built from the ground up into a strong community club.

The first new club in the BFNL for 30 years, the Suns have generated strong interest in the local community and created new pathways for young players in the North Torquay area to be involved in local sport.

Surf Coast Suns football president Jay Williams expects the inaugural match-up to be a great contest.

Williams, a Torquay local involved with the club since 2018, has been keen for the Suns to face off in a senior match.

Williams said it was “truly a historic moment for the community of Torquay and I look forward to seeing this be a locked in fixture for the future between the two clubs”.

Surf Coast Suns netball president Claire Sadler knows just how delighted the netball program of the club is to take the court for their first crack at senior netball.

"Everyone’s so excited, Salder said. "There’s still a lot of hard work to finish off before round one but the vibe’s really high, especially in the netball program”.

"We’ve been working hard for months now and everyone just wants to put on the dress for the first time and get at it”.

The Surf Coast Shire has also been a keen ally of the club during its formative stages, expecting “a bumper crowd, with junior and senior football and netball games from 8am and without any competing games scheduled in Geelong”.

The Suns were formed as a junior club in 2016 to provide opportunities for families to lead an active lifestyle in the rapidly growing region of North Torquay.

Torquay has grown over the last decade from a population of 10,142 in the 2011 census to 18,534 in the 2021, with that figure tipped to have increased exponentially since that time.

This growth has created strong demand for a second team in the town, with the Suns having fielded an impressive 21 junior football sides last season.

In an expanding town like Torquay, the Suns have ensured that young players have a clear pathway to play football and netball in their local area.

On Easter Saturday, the result will matter, but the occasion may matter more.

A decade in the making, the Suns’ senior debut marks the beginning of a new chapter in Torquay football.

AFL Barwon has today released The Rise of the Surf Coast Suns, a short-form documentary capturing the journey behind the region’s first new senior football and netball club in more than four decades.

Produced with the support of AFL Victoria, the documentary explores how the Surf Coast Suns progressed from concept to competition while navigating community debate, resistance and the complexities that come with establishing a new club in one of Victoria’s fastest-growing regions.

Through interviews with key figures involved in the club’s formation, The Rise of the Surf Coast Suns provides an authentic and compelling insight into the determination, resilience and belief that ultimately led to the club’s acceptance into the Bellarine Football Netball League.

The film was screened for the first time at last night’s Surf Coast Suns club dinner. The Suns Netball and Football Presidents, Claire Sadler and Jay Williams, said the documentary captures the heart of the club’s journey and the collective effort that helped bring the senior program to life.

“The Surf Coast Suns story is one built on community, passion and progression. This documentary captures far more than football and netball, it highlights the journey of a club that has grown from a strong junior foundation into a thriving senior program, driven by the commitment of so many people both on and off the field.

“To see the pathway from juniors through to seniors showcased in this way is something our entire club can be incredibly proud of. It reflects years of hard work from our players, coaches, families, volunteers, committee members and supporters who continue to shape the culture and future of the Surf Coast Suns.

 “The film also shines a light on the importance of creating opportunities for young people to stay connected to their local community through sport, while building an environment where players can develop, belong and represent the Surf Coast Suns with pride. 

“We appreciate the opportunity to be involved alongside AFL Barwon in telling this story and look forward to the official release of the documentary.”

Head of AFL Victoria Greg Madigan attended last night’s screening. He said the club’s story would leave a lasting impact on the broader football community.

“The journey of the Surf Coast Suns Football Netball Club is a remarkable story of vision, resilience and community spirit. To see the club take the field in 2026 as the first new senior club to enter the league in 41 years is a significant milestone, not only for the Surf Coast Suns, but for football and netball across the broader Barwon region.

“Congratulations to President Jay Williams, Netball President Claire Sadler and the incredible team of volunteers whose hard work and belief have turned this ambition into a reality. Their efforts have already generated enormous excitement and engagement throughout the community.

“AFL Barwon is also to be commended for the collaborative work undertaken alongside the club to help guide and support this historic outcome.

“We wish Senior Coach Trent Rogers, and everyone involved with the Surf Coast Suns the very best for the inaugural season and for many successful years to come.”

AFL Barwon CEO Kate Patterson acknowledged the collaborative effort behind bringing the project to life.

“Huge thanks to AFL Victoria and their partners for giving us the opportunity to tell the story of the Suns and their historic entry into the BFNL.

“We’re also very grateful to Jay, Claire and the incredible community they’ve built at the Suns, for allowing AFL Barwon to help share their story through this documentary.  It’s been so exciting to see it all come together, even more so with both their footy and netball sides already notching up their first wins early in the season!

“I would also like to acknowledge Lance Fidler for his outstanding work in producing the documentary. He’s done such a beautiful job in capturing the spirit of the Suns.”

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.