The Surf Coast Suns have announced Trent Rogers as the inaugural Senior Men’s Football Coach.

Rogers brings an impressive coaching and playing background to the Suns as they prepare to enter the Bellarine Football Netball League in 2026. With a personal training and high-performance business on the Surf Coast, Rogers combines a deep understanding of fitness with his wealth of football experience.

His coaching journey includes three seasons at the helm of Airport West in the Essendon District Football League, culminating in a Division 1 premiership. He has also been part of the High Performance Coaching team with the Geelong Falcons and served as an assistant coach at South Barwon last season, where the club reached the Geelong FNL Grand Final.

In his new role, Rogers will focus on becoming familiar with Surf Coast’s junior talent and building a strong foundation for the club’s senior team as they transition to the BFNL.

The Suns are confident Rogers’ expertise, passion, and vision will guide the team to success in this exciting new chapter.

AFL Barwon & gforce will continue their ongoing partnership through to the end of 2025, after agreeing to a new partnership.

gforce will continue as a proud supporter of community sport, extending into their ninth year of partnership with AFL Barwon.

They will continue to hold competition naming rights to the Under 18 Division 1 Football & Under 19 Netball competitions in the AFL Barwon region as part of the agreement.

The gforce logo will also continue to feature on the front of all Under 18 Football jumpers. 

For over 40 years, gforce have empowered young people by helping them into meaningful employment 

“Just as we empower individuals to realise their potential, we recognise the power of sport to inspire confidence, teamwork, and perseverance in the next generation. This partnership reflects how together we can further contribute to a thriving community,” affirmed, gforce CEO, Keith Baillie.

AFL Barwon General Manager, Edward Wilson, acknowledged “This partnership represents more than two community organisations working together, but rather two entities sharing equitable values in opportunity provision and paving the way for the future, for so many within our region. We’re grateful for the continued support gforce provide not just to AFL Barwon and our Clubs, but to the community as a whole”. 

To find out more about gforce and their apprenticeships, traineeships and employments solutions, go to www.gforce.org.au 

AFL Barwon are excited to announce that the Surf Coast Football Netball Club will be participating in the Bellarine FNL Netball 13&Under Division 1, 15&Under Division 1, 17&Under Division 1, and 19&Under competitions in 2025.

Following proactive and collaborative conversations by Newcomb Football Netball Club, they had indicated to AFL Barwon that they would not be able to field teams in these competitions in the 2025 winter season. This has therefore provided Surf Coast FNC with the opportunity to allow their players to be part of these junior netball competitions a season earlier then their full club introduction in 2026.

Please note that all games in this competition involving Surf Coast FNC will be aligned to the Newcomb FNC BFNL home and away fixture in 2025.

This is great outcome for all players in these competitions as it allows teams to play 2 additional matches where a bye would have been scheduled. This also maximises the home game fixtures for clubs excluding gaps in the day’s fixtures.

The 2025 Dow Bellarine FNL season fixtures on PlayHQ will reflect this upon their completion.

AFL Barwon extends its gratitude to Newcomb FNC and Surf Coast FNC, for being proactive in their respective involvements and contributions in this outcome.

AFL Barwon in consultation with Grovedale Football Netball Club and Netball Victoria, have determined that all fixtured home games at Burdoo Reserve will now be played inside the Grovedale Secondary College Stadium for the 2025 season.

During the course of the 2024 season, it has been identified that following the implementation of rolling substitutions and in conjunction with the current court profile, the Burdoo Reserve Netball Courts have experienced higher levels of congestion on the team-bench sideline, leading to an increased risk profile.   

Grovedale FNC has identified this increased risk profile, and proactively sought support from AFL Barwon and Netball Victoria about alternatives to mitigate this factor moving forward. 

The Club has been proactive in their discussions and have been actively working with Local Government to improve the conditions of their outdoor courts, and both AFL Barwon and Netball Victoria are supportive of these actions.  

While permission to use the indoor courts has been granted for season 2025, Grovedale FNC are aware that they must continue to work towards the redevelopment of the Burdoo Reserve courts as a high priority.  

All parties will continue to monitor and review the status of both court arrangements, responding to any issues that arise throughout the season. 

AFL Barwon would like to acknowledge the work Grovedale FNC has completed to date, to ensure a more permanent solution to the issues their courts face can be found. The Club has been working proactively in this space, and we support their endeavours to have their netball facility redeveloped. 

We thank the Geelong Football Netball League Clubs in advance for their support of Grovedale FNC for 2025 season, and look forward to the ongoing improvements at the outdoor site.