GSFL 2024: WA football icon Darrell Panizza hungry as ever for success as he takes reins at Royals once again

Royals legend and newly appointed senior coach Darrell Panizza is not feeling the pressure as he expects nothing short of excellence from his side ahead of the 2024 Great Southern Football League season. The WA Football Commission life member will take the reins at the Lions next season for the first time since his golden era with the club between 1999-2014, when they won eight flags from 12 grand final appearances. Panizza, known by many as “Dollar”, is ready to put his money where his mouth is as he demands only success for the club next season. “This will be my 25th year at the club and I’ve played in 20 grand finals — I don’t think I need to worry about the pressure of winning or losing,” he said. “I won’t be backing away from the fact that we want to be playing really good footy and be super competitive.” He replaces Andrew Ruck at the helm. The Lions bowed out of last year’s flag race in the preliminary final but after a decorated career in the blue and white, Panizza is eager to add to the trophy cabinet. “Andrew Ruck has coached for the last five years and won two premierships, and we’ve ended up in another grand final,” Panizza said. “That’s the sort of thing that we want to continue — playing in finals and winning premierships. “I have a good handle on some of the players that will be looking to push a bit harder and get them up to league standard and I’m really happy to coach some of those players that I have previously. “I just think that it’s really a good fit for myself, the footy club and the players.” Panizza insists his squad has the perfect balance to challenge for flag glory when they take to the field again next season. “There’s a lot of good kids coming through and at the same time, we’ve got some really talented older players and middle-aged players that are coming back from injury who are all really hungry for success again,” he said. “The one thing that we don’t do at Royals is go for long periods where we don’t win premierships. “So the idea is to hopefully generate enough enthusiasm with the kids and also the senior players to have a successful year.” Royals president James McRae said although Panizza was the only applicant, the club could not be happier with the appointment. “Dollar’s record speaks for itself, and other clubs would be jumping at the chance to have him coach their club,” McRae said. “He’s got fire in his belly to go again, he is a new and invigorated coach and I think you’ll see a different Dollar this time around. “He has coached 16s and colts to premierships in three of the last four years which gives us stability with a young club going forward.”