Beau Vernon appointed senior coach at Leongatha

ANOTHER remarkable chapter has been added to the already inspiring story of Beau Vernon.

CRIPPLED by a sickening footy clash last year, Beau Vernon has astounded his medical staff by going for a surf. Beau Veron and his girlfriend Lucy Bourke at home. Beau is obviously restricted to his wheelchair. Please take copy pics of anything he has available showing his activities i.e. at the beach, during rehab etc. He also has video of him surfing which we will use.

ANOTHER remarkable chapter has been added to the already inspiring story of Beau Vernon.

The 25-year-old, who became a quadriplegic after a horrific on-field accident while playing for Leongatha in 2012, was announced as the Parrots’ senior coach at the club’s presentation night last Friday.

Vernon will take over from outgoing coach Glenn Garner, and will be charged with returning Leongatha to finals football after a two-year absence.

Kicking goals: New Leongatha Football Club coach Beau Vernon (centre) with dad, Daryl (right) and brother Zak (left) at the Parrots' 2014 presentation night on Friday, September 12, 2014. Zak won Leongatha's senior best-and-fairest award on the night. Picture: Mark Drury

“I’m pretty excited about it, but I realise that there is a lot of hard work involved,” Vernon told The Weekly Times.

“I missed out on a senior premiership when I was in my playing days, so I really want to win one and experience what it is like as a coach.”

Despite being restricted to a wheelchair since breaking the C5 and C6 vertebrae in the accident two years ago, Vernon said nothing would stop him from giving his best in the role.

Fighting on: Beau, pictured with his parents Daryl and Kerrie, in hospital after his accident.

“There will be hurdles to overcome, but I’ve learnt since my accident that there is always a way around things,” Vernon said.

“I’ll be looking at getting an electric chair to help me hoon around on the training track as it is pretty tough for me to get around on the grass.

“I’m also looking at electric chairs that can boost me up so I can be at eye level with the boys when I am addressing them.”

Former Collingwood rookie and fellow Gippsland Power graduate Tristan Francis has been appointed assistant coach.

Francis, 25, had hip replacement surgery this year.

Vernon’s appointment follows in the footsteps of his father Daryl, who coached the club in 1992.

Daryl, who will be on hand to assist Beau on the bench next year, described Leongatha’s decision to elevate his son to the role of senior coach as an “awesome appointment”.

“It is a great feel-good story,” Daryl said.

“Beau has a great rapport with all the players and now it is just a matter of tweaking a few things to get the club heading back in the right direction.

Fighting on: Beau, pictured with his parents Daryl and Kerrie, in hospital after his accident.

“Beau’s appointment is no different to any other club appointing a non-playing coach; it’s all about recruiting well and getting good quality people around him to help him out.”

Beau said the key to the Parrots’ fortune was developing a strong club culture.

“There are a lot of good blokes at Leongatha at the moment, so there will be a focus on retaining and building on the current group and bringing through the juniors we have,” he said.

“We’ll also be looking to recruit a few and get good people on board so we can return the Leongatha Football Club back to where it should be.”