EFNL 2023: Surrey Park signs Jake Summers, Lachie Summers

A two-time Eastern league premiership forward is among Surrey Park’s swag of recruits ahead of its move into a higher division.

He’s returned to where it all began.

Two-time Doncaster East premiership spearhead Jake Summers is back in the Eastern league, linking with Division 3 outfit Surrey Park where he played his juniors.

The former Box Hill Hawk captained the state league club to a development flag last decade, following stints with the Oakleigh Chargers and Eastern Ranges.

Summers was best-afield in Doncaster East’s 2019 premiership in the league’s second tier, earning a spot in the Team of the Year that season, also featuring in the Lions’ 2018 triumph.

He exited the club at the end of 2021 and spent the past two seasons with Kyneton in the Bendigo league.

The swingman is joined by the signing of younger brother Lachie, who returns to Surrey Park following two seasons at VAFA club Old Carey.

Jake Summers in action for Doncaster East in the Eastern Football League (EFL). Picture: Davis Harrigan

Surrey Park president Rohan Sutherland said the club had maintained contact with the family and hoped the brothers would one day reunite in the black and white stripes.

Jake took home the club’s under-18 best and fairest in 2010.

“Jake has two brothers and they all came through the junior footy club,” Sutherland said.

“We’ve talked to them a lot … we’ve maintained a conversation with them for a long time about the prospect of a reunion at Surrey Park.

“They’ve been open to that for a long time.

“At a time when the club is building, some of our players and other returning players have played a role in maintaining a conversation with those boys in convincing them that now’s the time to come home.

“That’s delivering on the dream of what we were always building.”

Lachie won several best-and-fairest awards as a Surrey Park junior – including a league crown in 2014 – with the former Oakleigh Charger representing Vic Metro in 2016.

“He’s a really versatile player, multiple best and fairest winner and we’re rapt to have him back … there’s a few boys from his age group who are playing football with us,” Sutherland said.

“When you go to finals and you see players who’ve played at the club and have come out to watch their mates play, you know that bond is still real.

“It makes it easier to have those conversations.”

The pair’s addition follows the return of big-bodied midfielder Damien Frisina and defender Bede Briscomb after time away from the club. Both have previously made teams of the year.

Surrey Park won its first Eastern league premiership in Division 4 this season, and Sutherland was confident his club’s haul of recruits had it primed for an assault on Division 3 in 2024.

“We feel like we’re in a fortunate position that we’re able to put together an attractive brand of football and a really strong club culture that players want to come back and be part of,” Sutherland said.

“There’s enough of those players that played their junior football with us that we think we can continue to build and continue to attract that talent back.

“We feel like this is just the start.”