Former AFL forward Aaron Black will play for the Surf Coast Suns in the BFNL in 2026
A former AFL forward will make his return to the BFNL in 2026 with the Surf Coast Suns, four years after playing with a rival outfit.
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When the Surf Coast Suns went searching for a key pillar for its new senior program for 2026, they didn’t have to look too far.
Suns president Jay Williams was aware that former AFL player Aaron Black was living in the area and his son was registered with Auskick at the club.
Black, who was unveiled as the Suns’ inaugural player signing this week, had been in discussions with Williams for over 12 months.
“I knew that he was around,” Williams said.
“His son was registered in Auskick with us, so I knew there was a good chance that he’d be open to get involved.
“So I just gave him a call.”
The 34-year-old played 57 games with North Melbourne and then Geelong before his career wrapped up in 2018 after rupturing an ACL in Round 12 that season.
However, it will be Black’s second stint in the Bellarine having played 11 games with Modewarre in 2022, kicking 24 goals for the Warriors.
Black is currently working at Kardinia Park in an operations management and coaching capacity.
And Williams said Black’s desire to play had grown after telling this masthead back in 2022 his playing days would be limited in the future.
The 34-year-old has played five games over the past 12 months with Hampden league outfit, the Warrnambool Blues.
“It was just a bit hard for him travelling, especially with his schedule,” Williams said.
“Having the new club, coming in and playing a part in building it, being local, having his son play, pulling on a jumper I think it’s turned something on inside for him.
“He only has to stroll up the road to play ... we’ve fired him up.”
With Black’s son playing under-9s next year with the Suns, Black is also assisting the club with recruiting ahead of season one.
Williams said it had a list of players it was keen to speak to – but was respectful of their existing club connections – was expecting a handful of under-18s to make the grade in 2026 while there were a couple of 30+ players in mind that will provide crucial leadership.
With two under-18s teams this year, the Suns have produced strong results from its grading matches.
However, former Carlton player Ross Young – one of the AFL’s first mature aged recruits – who won a Sandover Medal in 2009 has put his hand up to assist the Suns next year.
“He’s keen to play,” he said.
“He’s a bit older, but his experience is invaluable, we’ve got a good mix of older guys at the moment that are pretty keen to jump on.”
However, he said the key now was to pick a core of players in their early to mid 20s, that might not be getting opportunities at other clubs, like Torquay or Lorne.
“I feel like we’re not going to have any problems in terms of filling a playing list,” he said.
Williams said he pushed AFL Barwon to get 60 player points – up from an initial offer of 55 – and will enjoy a $110,000 salary cap.
“Sixty’s probably the bare minimum that we need,” he said.
“Hopefully we’re competitive from the start which I think everyone will want to see.”
Meanwhile, Williams said the club would have adequate facilities for its inaugural season in the BFNL.
It was unable to secure any Federal funding through local member, Libby Coker but will now eye off the next state election.
The Suns’ footy and netball teams will have to share changerooms while the existing pavilion will play a key role in building off-field culture.
“It just takes a little bit of work with scheduling, but we do have enough to get going,” Williams said of the changerooms.
Williams said the past 18 months had been an incredibly busy period.
“There’s a bit on, for sure,” he said.
“A lot of it’s behind the scenes, not many people know what goes into it, you can’t physically see much yet but now we’re starting to have announcements and things are becoming clearer to everybody else with what’s actually going on.”
Originally published as Former AFL forward Aaron Black will play for the Surf Coast Suns in the BFNL in 2026
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