Painting a new picture: Surf Coast FC announces new head coach

SURF Coast Football Club’s new senior head coach has arrived at Banyul-Warri Fields ready to start its State League 4 run in 2023.

The Torquay-based club announced Ash Dafter would take the reins of its senior men’s side, bringing with him more than a decade of experience following recent coaching stints at Melbourne Victory, Geelong Soccer Club and Adrian Leijer’s Coerver Coaching program across the region.

“I’ve always wanted to coach my own seniors team, it’s really exciting and I’m extremely grateful to Surf Coast for giving me this opportunity,” Dafter said.

“Coming off a year off coaching, I sat down with Surf Coast to hear where they wanted to be in the next five years, and to hear a club so eager to build a youth program and a better pathway for younger players is really exciting to me as a seniors coach.

“I look forward to seeing how far we can take this side and get as many eyes on our players as possible.”

The Torquay community was a major drawcard for Dafter, who currently lives in Ballarat with his young family.

Ash also confirmed he is a firm believer in the idea that club-wide inclusion begins at the top of the player ranks.

“My priority as a senior coach is to create an environment that is welcoming and to give opportunities to younger members of our club’s community,” he said.

“I remember when I started playing there weren’t anywhere near as many teams and facilities across the region as there are now, so to see the sport flourishing the way it is in Greater Geelong and the Surf Coast is huge.”

Preseason for Dafter’s side, led by club stalwart and captain Tom Langman and vice-captain Matt Zilic, is already underway.

State League 4 is expected to commence in late-March with full fixtures to be released shortly by Football Victoria.