Turner grew up in Warrnambool, Victoria and completed his final years of high school at Monivae College in Hamilton.
He followed in the footsteps of his father, Leo Turner (1928–1997), in representing Geelong and played as a wingman and half-forward.
[3] In 1989, Turner signed on as captain-coach of Werribee in the Victorian Football Association.
[4] In 1995, he was appointed by AFL Victoria to be the regional manager for the Geelong Falcons, responsible for the development of junior talent in the area.
In 2014, he completed his 20th year in the job, having helped make the Falcons one of the highest-regarded junior development programs in Australia.