Surf Coast coach Trent Rogers says the region’s newest team will build its brand around behaviour rather than game style as it prepares for its maiden practice match.
The Suns, who will become the 11th club in the Bellarine League, will take another step towards their competition debut on Saturday when they face Central Highlands semi-finalists Rokewood-Corindhap.
“We’ll focus, first and foremost, on things that you don’t even need to be a good footballer to do,” Rogers said.
“We really want to pride ourselves on our communication; things like our body language, our tonality, the first, second, third voice around the footy and so on.
“Our work rate. Gut running. Especially on the ground that we’ve got, we really want to make sure that we’re a side that is first into the contest, first to spread, and covers the ground really well.
“And a team that really just champions each other – really supports each other, and can look out for each other on game day.
“For the guy next to him, it’s like, ‘Right,’ I’m here to play footy with you’, and a real team aspect in which you don’t need to be a great footballer to do some of those things.”
Surf Coast will take a close to full-strength squad into the senior match, with only Geelong VFL-listed Hunter Gottschling, who played yesterday against Carlton, and Geelong West GDFNL recruit Ted Walliss (cricket) unavailable.
Former AFL players Aaron Black (North Melbourne and Geelong) and Ross Young (Carlton) will pull on a Suns guernsey this week.
Rogers says Young, who at age 42 looms as one of the oldest debutants in BFNL history in Round 1, has impressed over pre-season.
“He’s played at the highest level, he’s played state league footy, but at training, he’s absolutely amazing, to be honest,” Rogers said.
“I’m actually looking forward to watching him play a game of footy, too.”
Daniel Pantalleresco, who played in the Talent League with the Western Jets, and South Barwon recruit Harry Gravener, who former Swans assistant coach Rogers lured from McDonald Reserve, have also been standouts for the fledgling outfit.
It’s those experienced heads that will be crucial to how Surf Coast fares, and Rogers is keen after a month of match simulation and intraclub hitouts to see his team take on an opponent.
“It’s a good opportunity for them to play against a team in different colours and get a good feel for it.
“For us, as a coaching group, it’s just an opportunity for us to see everyone we’ve got actually play some footy together.
“That way, we can take a few things out of it and see if it’s matching up to what our current thought process is at this point in time.”
Surf Coast will announce its inaugural captain and leadership group at its season launch on Saturday night.
The Suns’ second and final practice match is against Colac and District club Birregurra on March 14 – three weeks out from their Bellarine debut against crosstown rivals Torquay at Banyul-Warri Fields on Easter Saturday.
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