By Russell Bennett
WEST GIPPSLAND FOOTBALL NETBALL COMPETITION
SENIOR GRAND FINAL – THE WINNING CLUB
To Beau Vernon, footy is far more than just a game. It’s a religion.
Footy took so much from him when he suffered a spinal cord injury while playing in 2012 – leaving him a quadriplegic.
But it’s also what’s helped shape him into the person he is today.
On Saturday, well after the mellowing of the shock and amazement of what had just transpired at Garfield’s Beswick Street ground – the Island’s 99-point thrashing of a goalless Kooweerup – Vernon spoke with the Gazette back at the Phillip Island footy club, clearly a sacred place for its people.
“I know what happened to me was a freak accident,” he said of the 2012 incident, explaining his outlook on the game he loves.
“Footy gave me so many strengths, and so many values as a person – it taught me how to work hard, it taught me how to be a part of a team, and it taught me failure and how to deal with it.
“It’s taught me so much in my life, so to leave it behind after one freak accident wasn’t an option. I love the game – I think it’s the best game in the world.
“I love seeing blokes work hard together – as a coaching group, as volunteers, as players – to try and achieve something.”
And on Saturday, the boys from the Island achieved the ultimate – 12 months on from when Vernon led Leongatha to a one-point Gippsland League premiership win over Maffra.
In doing so, Vernon became a premiership coach of the Bulldogs – his home club – at almost the same age as his father Daryl achieved the same feat in 1990.
He was beaming with pride at the effort his boys showed in making one hell of a statement on the biggest of WGFNC stages on Saturday.
“For us, it’s the enjoyment of it,” he said in regards to the Dogs’ 2018 success, where they continually built from the start of the season to the end.
“If you’re enjoying your work, you’ll put more effort into it.
“If you’re enjoying your relationship with your partner, you’ll put more effort into it.
“If you’re enjoying playing footy, you’ll put more effort into it and get more out of it.
“This group enjoyed playing this year and enjoyed turning up to training, and I think that showed in our footy and the way we played for one another.”
Jaymie Youle was an integral part of this year’s premiership side, and captained the Island to its last flag in 2014.
He paid tribute to this year’s group on Saturday, acknowledging that was the last time they’d all play together – with the retirements of Matt Jackson and Jimmy Taylor.
Jackson was a soccer convert made good and was part of the 2014 premiership side too. Team mate Mark Griffin was another to make the same switch.
Jack Taylor, despite appearances, has only recently turned 21 and yet Saturday was already his 100th senior game and second senior flag.
Saturday’s best on ground medallist, Aaron Edwards, did his hamstring in this year’s interleague game and – modestly – said he hadn’t really started to hit his form until the grand final.
These are just some of the players with incredible stories to tell following Saturday’s win. Truth be told, they all had stories – and back at ‘The Kennel’ on Saturday night Vernon, off the top of his head, went through them all one by one to the rooms packed with red, white and blue faithful. Each of his players, from the backline veterans to the young blokes on the rise, has a place in his heart and that was so clear to see.
This year’s premiership captain Brendan Kimber – also the WGFNC’s 2018 senior best and fairest winner – also spoke to the Gazette on Saturday night about the magic of the current Bulldog pack and paid tribute to his coach.
“If he didn’t coach me and play me in the forward position, I’d be a one-dimensional player,” he said with trademark honesty.
“Having Beau down here has added that dimension to my game, and also to Jaymie Youle who’s kicked more than 25 goals. Zak Vernon is another one (21 goals).
“Coaches can tend to just play you in your role.
“Beau thinks outside the square – he thinks differently – and he throws us in different positions to make us better.
“I don’t think he’ll ever be satisfied. He’ll never be afraid to pull me into line as one of the oldest players, or a kid who’s come out of the ‘18s. He’s just so direct with his message, and it’s professional so people accept it.
“There’s never any ulterior motive with him – he tells you how it is. If you’re not performing or pulling your weight on the training track, he’ll tell you.
“He’s the same with everyone, and I think that makes us all better. If you can’t accept that, you shouldn’t be at the footy club really.”
Youle was another to speak to the Gazette on Saturday night about what the Bulldogs mean to him.
He prides himself on his consistency of effort above all else, and it shows in his professional approach to the game.
“Our gameplan stacks up against anyone’s,” he said of his side.
“I don’t know how other teams see us but we’re ruthless and massively tough at the ball.”
He also spoke about Vernon, one of his best mates.
“I went through junior footy with him and I can’t speak highly enough of him,” he said.
“He’s just the most amazing person I’ve ever met in my life, and in terms of his influence – his outlook on life makes other people look at their own lives differently.
“Footy has taken a lot from him – because he was the most active person I’ve met – but it’s given him so much more.”
Chris Ross, one of the Bulldogs’ two co-presidents, told the Gazette that Vernon had even been in hospital on Thursday night with a fever, and checked himself out so he could head to the club and read the grand final teams out.
“It’s hard to explain what he goes through,” he said.
“We knew what he’d bring to the club (in coming across as coach after last season) – his professionalism, his enthusiasm, the whole lot. He’s just an incredible person.”
Vernon’s wife Lucy also plays B Grade netball for the club, and their young family is right at home at ‘The Kennel’. Ross said he couldn’t give her enough credit for the person she is.
That’s one hell of a common theme at the club. From the committee members, to the coaches, to the players, to the volunteers – Phillip Island’s people are what’s behind its success, as evidenced by six grand final appearances across the grades. If Saturday was any indicator – both on field at Garfield, and off-field back at the Island – that period of success might just be getting started.
