Put simply – here’s an opportunity not to be missed for all coaches in the AFL South East region!
Mentors from right across the region are in for a special treat with inspirational Phillip Island coach Beau Vernon the guest speaker at the third and final session of the AFL South East Coach Support and Mentor Program.
This highly-anticipated session will take place at Casey Fields, Cranbourne, on Monday, June 24, starting at 6 pm.
Vernon was a star player for Leongatha, a two-time best and fairest winner, before a freak football accident in 2012 saw him become a quadriplegic at the age of 23.
Vernon spent seven months in rehabilitation, experiencing the lowest of lows, before finding solace in the grand-old art of coaching. He has since secured senior premierships at both Leongatha and Phillip Island to become one of the most respected figures in the game.
He has a reputation for thinking outside the square and has engineered some remarkable sporting success stories.
This really is a session not to be missed.
The AFL South East Coach Support and Mentor Program, which built in momentum last season, aims to bring coaches together to share their knowledge and experiences with one another in a cohesive and enjoyable environment.
Roughly three years ago, well -respected former Devon Meadows coach Brent Clinnick put a pitch to AFLSE Football Development Manager Cam Roberts aimed at introducing a program to support the coaches.
Clinnick understood perfectly the stresses involved at club land and convinced AFLSE to implement his plan.
Now in his third year as the AFLSE Mentor and Coach Support Coordinator, Clinnick is thrilled to be backing up after a very rewarding first two years in the role.
“I think the program has been enormously successful in its first two years, creating a real bond and a support mechanism for all coaches in the region,” Clinnick said, before explaining the vulnerabilities that some coaches feel.
“It’s a tough industry and a really tough job being a coach, the expectation is there that you know everything, but the reality is that coaches are learning on the run as well.”
Bookings for session three are essential and can be accessed through Coach.AFL