The Surf Coast Suns have started to field consistent inquiries from potential players and coaches

The BFNL’s newest club has began to receive a consistent flow of inquiries from potential players. See where things are at, just four months away from its inaugural pre-season.

Surf Coast Suns president Jay Williams with new recruit Aaron Black. Picture: Brad Fleet

The BFNL’s newest club has received numerous player and coaching inquiries in recent weeks as plans ramp up ahead of its league debut in 2026.

While the Surf Coast Suns have announced only one marquee player so far, Aaron Black, senior mentor Trent Rogers told this masthead the next public declaration would likely involve line and assistant coaches with further players to follow after that.

Rogers said he and list manager Brodie Marston had received numerous inquiries about playing and coaching positions over the past fortnight with pre-season set to begin in early November.

“The last couple of weeks, it’s picked up quite a lot,” Rogers said on Thursday.

“A lot of conversations starting to flow through.

“We’ve had quite a number of players actually reach out to us by email.

“At least half a dozen.

“I’m surprised at how many players have reached out.

The Surf Coast Suns unveiled its first recruit Aaron Black in May. Picture: Brad Fleet

“It was a little bit slow paced (early on)... it was probably a little bit early in the current year for players to be actually forward thinking and thinking about what they’re doing next year.

“Clubs and players ... (are thinking now): ‘am I going to be playing finals currently where I’m at? What am I going to do next year?’

“Clubs are looking to re-sign their current list.”

Surf Coast Suns' under-18 team. Picture: Surf Coast Suns FC.

It comes as the club recently wrapped up its six-week High Performance Academy for junior boys and girls, led by Rogers, former Western Bulldogs coach Brendon McCartney and Geelong AFLW player Kate Darby.

He said over the past two weeks the club had also received a “handful of verbal commitments”, but would keep them in-house while competitions were still being played.

Surf Coast co-president Jay Williams with inaugural coach Trent Rogers. Picture: Supplied

“We want to be respectful and cautious in regards to other clubs ... you don’t want to have too many conversations when they’re currently focused on their current season, it becomes a bit of a distraction,” he said.

Rogers said there were interested players who lived in the region but were travelling over 100km for a game, like Colac, Bendigo or Ballarat.

Rogers guided Airport West to an EDFL division one premiership in 2022. Picture: George Salpigtidis

“Guys that are travelling at least an hour or two for a game of footy at the moment, but still living local-ish in the area,” he said.

“The last couple of weeks the momentum has certainly started to generate that’s for sure.”

Rogers, who owns and runs the Body Fit Training in Torquay, was excited about what was to come.

“It feels like the last few weeks the excitement is starting to build,” he said.

“We’re four months away from starting a pre-season now.

“Senior coaching, even though it’s community sport, it’s almost like a permanent part time job on top of your own job.”

Originally published as The Surf Coast Suns have started to field consistent inquiries from potential players and coaches