Suns junior rises to senior ranks in milestone moment

CLOSE to a decade after his first training session as a child, Riley Cotter could never have imagined where football would take him in 2026.

Earlier this month, the 18-year-old ran out for the Surf Coast Sun’ inaugural senior men’s side, becoming the first junior to rise through the ranks and play at that level in the club’s history.

“It was an incredible opportunity – a dream come true honestly,” he said.

“I could not have played in a better game.

“The crowd, the weather, it was just an amazing day.”

Cotter joined the Suns in 2018 after moving to the coast from Anakie, a decision that, in hindsight, helped shape his football journey.

“I was going to go to Torquay because it was the only well-established club around, but their teams were full,” he said.

“The Suns were new, and I thought why not. I’ve stuck with it and it’s been incredible.

“They’ve really valued guys like me who have come through since we were kids. Juniors was our roots.”

Cotter said senior coach Trent Rogers reinforced that connection in his pre-game address ahead of the club’s first home clash against Torquay.

“He [Trent] was really adamant about getting around the juniors because that’s where we’ve come from,” Cotter said.

“To see the glory in their hearts was fantastic. They see us now as role models for the club.”

Across his eight years at the club, Cotter said the Suns’ growth has been evident both on and off the field.

“We’ve gotten more sponsors on board, great club rooms and there’s a real personalisation now that has us in a great position,” he said.

“Even just dinners on a Thursday night – we were missing that, but now we all get social and enjoy it together.”

Having captained the club’s inaugural under-16 and under-18 sides, Cotter has his sights set on leading at senior level in the future.

“It’s a big step up in senior footy with bigger bodies and bigger names,” he said.

“I feel like I’m warming into it all, but I definitely see myself pushing for it [the captaincy] one day if I am fortunate enough.

“You just take it week by week and play footy and enjoy it. I’m just taking it all in my stride.”