Population right behind corridor’s new clubs

THE growth corridor from Torquay to the outer suburbs of Geelong will house at least two new senior teams in the years to come.

And while there is no timeline on when Surf Coast Suns and Armstrong Creek Sharks will enter the senior ranks, it is a sign of the growth in the region.

Surf Coast was established in 2016 and Armstrong Creek arrived on the scene last year.

Surf Coast numbers continue to swell, with neighbouring BFL club Torquay at capacity.

The club had received 180 Auskick, 250 junior football and 200 netball registrations this year before the season was suspended as paddocks around Mount Duneed, Torquay North and Armstrong Creek are transformed into suburbs.

Surf Coast president Michael Thomas said the club’s location at BanyulWarri Fields had allowed it to tap into the new market.

“All around us is constantly just getting built and the vast majority of the people moving into that area are new people to the area,” Thomas said.

“As far as being part of a development, it’s one of the reasons why we are able to exist, how we’re growing.”

Auskick sessions are also held on a Friday night, which he said added a “point of difference to the typical Sunday morning”.

Thomas said growth had matched expectations as the club prepared for its fifth season.

He said there was an aspirational date of 2026 for a senior debut but described the time frame as a “little bit of pie in the sky”.

“We’ve got a lot of people that just want to learn and play the game,” Thomas said.

“The way we’ve structured our club is anybody who wants to play, we want to give them an opportunity to play.”

Armstrong

Creek president

Tamieka Reid said it was prepared for 150 registrations across football, Auskick and netball for its second season.

Reid said the club was laying its foundations in the community and aspired to field senior teams.