By Terry Wilson
New Broadbeach Cats coach Beau Zorko feels he is walking into an operation that is ready to cement a spot among the QAFL’s power clubs.
Zorko, 34, has been officially appointed by the Cats to replace Brett Andrews as head coach at Subaru Oval for 2019.
Which means Zorko is going to the club where younger brother Dayne won four successive best and fairests and launched his stellar AFL career with the Brisbane Lions.
Beau believes all the signs at Broadbeach are positive for a successful future after playing in their first grand final in 22 years.
“They have a wonderful junior talent base, the colts played finals, the reserves won the premiership and the seniors played off in a grand final,” Zorko said.
“Then you’ve got the Grogan Medallist (Blake Erickson), you’ve got the leading goalkickers from colts, reserves and seniors.
“So I think the club is terrifically positioned and I think the club has worked extremely hard to become a destination club on the gold coast.
“I feel there are exciting times ahead.”
Zorko returned to the coaching gig at the start of this year, acting as assistant to Brad Moore at Surfers Paradise, who lost the first semi-final to Morningside.
After playing juniors with Surfers Paradise, Beau moved into coaching and started with Labrador in 2009 where he was reserves coach under Jarrod Field.
The next year he started new business but midway through 2011 he answered a call to coach Surfers when Rob Martin departed Sir Bruce Small Park.
He was Demons coach through to 2014 then switched to the Gold Coast SUNS Academy.
In 2017, Zorko did nothing, but the urge to better himself resulted in him re-joining Surfers this year.
“I enjoyed getting back into the AFLQ landscape this year because I missed the week-to-week game preparations during the week,” Zorko said of reasons behind him returning to the Demons.
“I have been fortunate to work under Brad and certainly at the end of the year there was a bit of fire in the belly (to be a head coach again).
“I certainly appreciate my time at Surfers and leave there on the best of terms.
“Now it’s more about building on what BA (Brett Andrews) has put in place and the terrific job that he has done.”
The appointment of Zorko at Broadbeach leaves only Mt Gravatt to confirm a head coach to replace Daniel Webster, who has been signed by NEAFL club Aspley.
The Vultures are expected to know more after today when applications close, but it is understood they have fielded interest from a former AFL player who has coached at community level in Victoria.
Zorko is one of five new coaches at QAFL clubs, joining Liam Burke (Labrador), Barry O’Brien (Wilston Grange), Clint Watts (Morningside) and whoever gets the Mt Gravatt job as fresh faces for 2019.
