Coach signs on for 16th season

Darrell Panizza has ended all speculation about his coaching future after signing on to coach the Royals Football Club for a staggering 16th season.

Panizza was the only applicant to apply for the Lions league coaching job and was officially announced at a committee meeting last week to take the reins once more at Centennial Oval.

The Claremont games record holder said he still had plenty of passion to coach and was itching for the new season to arrive. “I’m very excited about what’s going to happen,” he said.

“I am very happy coaching, it’s something I enjoy doing.”

After taking the Lions to eight premierships in his 15 years at the helm, Panizza believes his side can once again challenge in 2014 after their preliminary final exit last year.

“It is another important year,” he said.

“We progressed along nicely last year.

“We will have a lot of players step up to senior level.”

Panizza forecasted the Lions would lose 11 players from last year’s team but was hopeful of gaining some stability among his group.

“The biggest thing we are lacking at the moment is experience,” he said.

“It’s a bit of a revolving door (country football) but we will try and keep everybody at the footy club for as long as we can and get some stability there.”

Royals president Kathleen Mier said the club was delighted to once again have Panizza on board as their senior coach.

“It is very exciting, we are looking at new assistant coaches to work with Darrell,” she said.

“He (Darrell) is still very keen to be there and have the top job.

“He is very excited about working with a young group and he’s very passionate.

“We are really excited to have him there.”

Mier confirmed colts premiership coach Gary Buitenhuis would continue in his role along with under-17s coach Gary McNamara.

Former umpire Scott Ganzer was named as the club’s new reserves coach.