The Brisbane Lions AFC are pleased to announce the appointment of NEAFL premiership-winning coach Murray Davis to a new development coaching role with the Club.

Davis’ appointment follows an outstanding season as Senior Coach of the Northern Territory Thunder that saw him guide his team to the inaugural NEAFL title after taking out the Northern Conference premiership one week earlier.

He will now work closely with Lions Assistant Coach Gary O’Donnell on the team’s defensive structures for the 2012 AFL season.

Lions General Manager of Football Operations Dean Warren believes Davis will prove a valuable addition to the Lions’ coaching staff.

“As Queensland’s first AFL Club, we’re delighted to get an up-and-coming Queensland coach like Murray on board,” Warren said.

“Murray has done an outstanding job with the NT Thunder over the past few seasons and we look forward to him continuing that work at the Lions.”

Davis, who was the Thunder’s High Performance Manager in 2009 before being elevated to Senior Coach in 2010, also spent four seasons as Vice-Captain at local Queensland side the Zillmere Eagles between 2001 and 2004.

He is now looking forward to joining the Lions and returning back home to Brisbane.

“I’m thrilled to be given an opportunity to work with the Brisbane Lions,” Davis said.

“The Lions are a proud club, and being a proud Queenslander myself, I look forward to returning home and working with Michael Voss and his team.”

The Lions are still looking to finalise the remaining positions on the Club’s coaching staff for 2012.