Inaugural Suns senior coach revealed

The Surf Coast Suns has unveiled its senior football coach ahead of the club’s historic entry to the Bellarine Football Netball League in 2026.

Surf Coast president Jay Williams (left) confirmed earlier this week that South Barwon assistant coach Trent Rogers will take on the mantle of leading the Suns through its inaugural season at AFL Barwon’s senior level.

“We’ve been talking to Trent for a couple of months, we probably spoke to him for the first time three months ago and presented really well,” Williams said.

“At that stage we had a couple people still on the radar and weren’t ready to make a final decision, but he fit what we were looking for.

“He’s young and energetic, and after getting our initial wrap on him with football director Warrick De Vercelli throughout 2024, we really liked him.

“As things progressed further and we watched on as South Barwon made the Grand Final, we could see he really got a lot out of that group.

“It was after showing him our space and the facilities, he was still really keen. Once he spoke with his wife, it all became confirmed over last weekend and then finally on Wednesday.”

 

Rogers served as a line coach under South Barwon’s Mark Neeld in 2024, following a successful three-year stint as head coach in the Essendon District Football League.

Rogers led junior club Airport West to a premiership in 2022 and a promotion to the league’s Premier Division in 2023, before announcing his departure for the Geelong Football League later that year.

He also manages a gym in the Armstrong Creek area.

Rogers said he was still coming to the realisation the appointment was locked in.

“It’s just under 12 months until we get stuck into pre-season and then a little over 15 months until the real thing begins

“There’s still a lot of structure and processes to be put in place between now and then, which is super exciting, but it’s obviously a huge privilege to be given an inaugural senior coaching role at a club.

“I’m extremely privileged, excited, proud, I’m just looking forward to what’s to become in 2026 and beyond.

Once the Suns start play in the Bellarine Football League in 2026, it will mark the first time a new senior side has entered the league since St Leonards in 1985.

By Nathan Rivalland & Vinnie van Oorschot