It’s a family affair at the Surf Coast Suns

IN TERMS of family success at one sporting club, the Rowe/Hoyne family had a 2021 to remember despite a somewhat disappointing sporting year for all clubs across the region.

The Surf Coast Suns are hot off the back of a shortened 2021 winter season and their Best and Fairest awards ceremony, but one family within the organisation walked away with the goods after putting in the hard yards over the past calendar year.

Led by their mother and Suns coach, Kylie Rowe, daughters Lily, Ruby and Willow each walked away with individual accolades from the 2021 winter season at both the club and competition level.

Rowe was responsible for two separate premiership-winning teams in both the Under 15 and Under 17 age-brackets of this year’s summer season.

“Not just for my girls, but for the all the girls at the club, I am happy that we get to recognise their achievements,” she said.

“It’s so good for their self-esteem, they are all great kids, I don’t think we have had anyone that has been a problem, they love being there and they love going to training.

“It’s just a terrific community.”

Suns club president Amber Potter mentioned that it has been a slow build to get where the club is today, but the fact that Surf Coast has been able to have a couple really good seasons in the middle of a pandemic is an accomplishment to be really proud of and happy for.

“We have gone from three teams in 2016 to 12 teams now,” Potter said.

“It’s been a massive growth in a short amount of time and a massive amount of energy has been put in, but it also takes good people like Kylie and her daughters to keep rocking up to training each week.”

Rowe’s eldest daughter Lily was awarded the AFL Barwon Best and Fairest Award for her Under 17s division, middle daughter Ruby was awarded runner-up AFL Barwon Best and Fairest and runner-up club Best and Fairest in Under 13s, and youngest daughter Willow was awarded club Best and Fairest of her side in Under 13s.

The Surf Coast Suns has provided a second family to many including Surf Coast Secondary student Lily, who maintains while it has been it has been the worst year in many respects, it has also been the best.

“Even with the difficult conditions, I would say that this past season was the best season I’ve ever had, and I’ve been playing netball for as long as I can remember,” she said.

“My team and I were all supporting each other, looking out for each other and it was great to see.

“I think the best way to describe the club is as a family, I love being there on a Friday night from 4-8pm, it’s fun and I think it’s perhaps my favourite time of the week.”

Surf Coast Suns expressions of interest for the 2022 winter season are expected to pick up in March. For more information head to surfcoastsuns.com.