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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“It was an incredible opportunity \u2013 a dream come true honestly,” he said.<\/p>\n
“I could not have played in a better game.<\/p>\n
“The crowd, the weather, it was just an amazing day.”<\/p>\n
Cotter joined the Suns in 2018 after moving to the coast from Anakie, a decision that, in hindsight, helped shape his football journey.<\/p>\n
“I was going to go to Torquay because it was the only well-established club around, but their teams were full,” he said.<\/p>\n
“The Suns were new, and I thought why not. I’ve stuck with it and it’s been incredible.<\/p>\n
“They’ve really valued guys like me who have come through since we were kids. Juniors was our roots.”<\/p>\n
Cotter said senior coach Trent Rogers reinforced that connection in his pre-game address ahead of the club’s first home clash against Torquay.<\/p>\n
“He [Trent] was really adamant about getting around the juniors because that’s where we’ve come from,” Cotter said.<\/p>\n
“To see the glory in their hearts was fantastic. They see us now as role models for the club.”<\/p>\n
Across his eight years at the club, Cotter said the Suns’ growth has been evident both on and off the field.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“Even just dinners on a Thursday night \u2013 we were missing that, but now we all get social and enjoy it together.”<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“It’s a big step up in senior footy with bigger bodies and bigger names,” he said.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“You just take it week by week and play footy and enjoy it. I’m just taking it all in my stride.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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 […]<\/p>\n