Career
Coverdale first joined Hawthorn in 1959 and played VFL reserves football before returning to Bairnsdale due to work commitments. He also had the misfortune of being injured in two separate car accidents during his early career. He was cleared to Hawthorn for the 1963 season and would kick 21 goals from his 20 senior games that year.
A centre half forward, he appeared for Hawthorn in the 1963 VFL Grand Final, which they lost.
After playing two more seasons he left Melbourne and rejoined Bairnsdale, who he would captain.
