![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/TTVSunsPre02_16503.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
The Suns have recruited from clubs all over the state, keen to get their first season off on the right foot.<\/p>\n
A Grade netballer Elisa Hall, who joined the Suns from Torquay in the off-season, is fired up for her first shot at her former side.<\/p>\n
“I’m very excited to be finally getting out there with the team after what has been a big pre-season,” she said.<\/p>\n
“We’ve had a lot of practice matches, so we’ve been preparing well.<\/p>\n
“It’ll be bittersweet playing against Torquay, but I’m keen to get it started.”<\/p>\n
Suns football captain Dylan Flanigan said the group had quickly found its rhythm.<\/p>\n
“It’s been an extended run into the season, but we feel we’ve gelled quicker than expected,” he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “We’ve done a lot of preparation together and team building exercises, and we feel we are in a great position to give it a crack next weekend.”<\/p>\n Torquay enters the clash looking to build on a strong 2025 campaign that ended in a preliminary final loss to Anglesea.<\/p>\n Speaking earlier this month, Tigers president Cameron Healey said the club was well placed, particularly with junior talent continuing to emerge.<\/p>\n The fountain of youth could be the key for Torquay, with the side likely to blood some up-and-coming talent from its juniors throughout 2026.<\/p>\n Tigers senior football captain Ben McNamara said facing another Torquay side had heightened the stakes of the contest.<\/p>\n “It’ll just be exciting to play against another club in Torquay, and hopefully it’ll be the start of another fantastic rivalry,” he said.<\/p>\n “We just want to get the first win on the board, just like every other club would be.”<\/p>\n The Tigers will also be looking for improvement across their netball program after missing finals in several grades last season.<\/p>\n Netball leader Kate Schippers said a strong start would be key.<\/p>\n “Hitting off the start of the season with a win over the Suns would be huge for us, it’s our main priority,” she said.<\/p>\n “We’ve had a hard pre-season and practice matches and we are now ready to go.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A NEW cross-town rivalry will begin in Torquay next weekend when the Surf Coast Suns take on the Torquay Tigers at Banyul Warri Fields. The round 1 clash marks the Suns’ long-awaited entry into the Bellarine Football Netball League (BFNL) and the first instalment of the Surf Coast Times Torquay Bowl, with the sides to […]<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/TTVSunsPre14_16510.jpg\")