Peverill to coach Lions in 2019

Therry Penola is pleased to announce that Damien Peverill will coach the club in 2019.

The former Essendon midfielder played 144 games at the elite level between 2001 and 2008, before joining Collingwood VFL as captain and playing assistant coach in 2009, and his story is one of hard work and perseverance.

A product of Keilor Park, Peverill played TAC Cup with the Calder Cannons, trained with the Western Bulldogs, played at Coburg and was rookie listed at Melbourne before he finally got his shot – with the Bombers’ last pick of the 2001 rookie draft – under Kevin Sheedy.

He developed a reputation as one of the league’s best taggers, running with champions such as Michael Voss, Nathan Buckley and Chris Judd.

He was head-hunted by Collingwood after his delisting in 2008 to fill a leadership role at VFL level, where left with a high reputation.

He played two years at Aberfeldie in the EDFL 2010 and 2011, but retired after his body gave up on him and remained at the Two Blues as an assistant coach until the end of 2016.

After a year away from footy, Peverill is looking forward to taking the reins from former teammate Dean Rioli, who returned the club to finals in his first and only year at the helm.

We wish Damien all the best as he leads the Lions into a new era.

• Therry Penola