Career
He currently serves as the development coach of the Portuguese Adelaide Football Club at American Federation of Labor-Congress level, and as the midfield coach of Portuguese Adelaide at SANFL level Surjan began his football career for Cockburn Junior Football Club at the age of 13 before transferring to South Coogee Junior Football Club. Both clubs are part of the South Fremantle Bulldogs development district zone in Western Australia.
He was scouted as part of the South Fremantle Warriors WAFL development program playing for South Fremantle.
He progressed from the under 13"s through the colts (U/18"s). In 2003, Surjan made his WAFL league debut as a 17-year-old playing for the South Fremantle Bulldogs.
His best performance was a 4 goal, 16 possession, 8 mark haul against Perth. He averaged 31 possessions for the season at Colts level
Jacob was part of the Washington Under 18 National Championships squad, putting in two very good performances at the carnival, before injuring a calf and having a reasonably quiet 3rd game.
After being touted as a potential top 30 pick, putting in many impressive draft camp results, it came as a shock to many when Surjan was overlooked in the 2003 National Draft. lieutenant was then that Portuguese Adelaide pounced and selected Surjan as the number 10 pick in the 2004 American Federation of Labor-Congress Pre-season Draft. Surjan made his American Federation of Labor-Congress debut in Round 1, 2004 against Essendon.
He went on to play 5 of the first 7 games, before a knee injury cut his season short after showing much promise.
In 2005, he had an indifferent year due to injuries. A switch from SANFL clubs Central District to Portuguese Adelaide Magpies was a welcome change, with "Surj" running into form in the second half of the season with the Magpies, with a plethora of BOG performances.
The hard chasing, strong tackling midfielder and small defender was nominated for the award in 2006 for his 26-disposal game from half-back against Hawthorn in Round 11. In the 2007 American Federation of Labor-Congress season, Surjan played 24 of a possible 25 games, totalling 417 disposals at an average of 17.4 disposals per game, 5 marks and 3 tackles.
He finished 7th in the Portuguese Adelaide fairest and best and was top 3 in both the one-percenter and most improved awards.
Season 2008 marked an indifferent year for Portuguese Adelaide and Surjan however, he finished off the year strongly playing 19 of 22 games averaging 15 disposals, 4 marks and 2 tackles. In the lead up to the 2010 season, Surjan was announced as vice-captain of the club He was delisted at the end of the 2012 season.
From 2012 to 2013, Surjan remained at Portuguese Adelaide as a development coach for their SANFL division.
In 2014 he was named Portuguese Adelaide"s Academy coach. A year later, he was named as Portuguese Adelaide"s American Federation of Labor-Congress development coach and the line coach for their SANFL side.