Beau Vernon used to play alongside Scott Pendlebury and Dale Thomas – in Paris he powered Australia to a bronze medal

Beau Vernon was once a gun junior footballer who played alongside future AFL stars Dale Thomas, Scott Pendlebury and Xavier Ellis. He’s now a Paralympic medallist. This is his story.

Beau Vernon has loved coaching winning teams but being in the heat of the battle is what he enjoys most.

The 36-year-old came up with crucial moments in Australia’s wheelchair rugby bronze medal match win over Great Britain, 50-48.

During his youth, Vernon was a talented footballer playing in the Gippsland Power’s TAC Cup 2005 premiership alongside future AFL stars Dale Thomas, Scott Pendlebury and Xavier Ellis.

A young Beau Vernon holds the TAC Cup trophy aloft after Gippsland Power defeated Dandenong Stingrays in the 2005 grand final.

He was left a C5-C6 quadriplegia after being injured in a local game at the age of 23.

While rehabbing, he found a love for coaching, eventually leading Leongatha and Phillip Island to one and two premierships respectively across six seasons.

When the pressure was at its highest, Vernon, who is classified as a 0.5 player, came up clutch defensively.

“I love the coaching, but it’s nice to be back to the coalface and hands, getting the hands dirty and getting involved and being able to have an impact physically,” he said.

“That was something else out there.”

Phillip Island celebrate their 2019 West Gippsland Football Netball Competition senior premiership. It was the third premiership in a row for coach Beau Vernon. Picture: AFL Gippsland

His elite fitness was on show throughout the five days of action in which the Steelers featured, including playing all 32 minutes in the bronze medal game.

“I don’t know if I was running on adrenaline, but I felt better each day,” he said.

“Probably the first game I didn’t think I had my best game. I hadn’t seen my family for a while. I’ve got three young kids and I saw him in the crowd, and I started choking up a bit.

“And I think it just drained me a little bit, I didn’t have my usual push, and I feel like I’ve left my last, my best two games, to the last two.”

Beau Vernon was central to Australia’s wheelchair rugby team winning bronze in Paris. Picture: Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images

Vernon said his family was a big reason why he was able to join the Steelers family almost two years after the sport’s powerhouse had won the World Championships.

“The reason why I’m doing this is to show my kids to go after your dreams and dream big and work hard at the things you love,” he said.

“There’s been some tough times, to be honest, being away from them.

“The misses has been shouldering the load, she’s an absolute legend, and to share that moment with him after the game was an unbelievable experience.”