The fairytale start to the AFL career of Bomber Damien Peverill will come to a grinding halt today when he returns to the Essendon rookie list. Peverill came off the rookie list to replace the injured Joe Misiti who went onto the long-term injury list after tearing a posterior cruciate ligament in his knee. But after nine weeks Misiti is now fit to play and will return for the Bombers against Fremantle meaning Peverill will return to the rookie list. The AFL will be notified of the change over some time this morning.

""Joe got through training well and is certainly ready to resume so Damien will return to the rookie list,"" Essendon football manager Matthew Drain said. ""Damien knew this would happen evenutally and hasn't got a problem with it. He has done an excellent job for us and set himself up for next season.""

There was speculation in the media yesterday that Dean Wallis had severely injured his hamstring at training on Monday night and would retire to make way for Peverill on the senior list. But Drain confirmed that was not the case.

""Dean had an MRI scan and he has a grade two tear in his hamstring. It is the third time he has suffered the injury this year and it is the result of an impingement on a lower disc in his back,"" Drain said.

""He will now go through the normal rehabilitation program and the fitness and medical staff will make a decision on when he returns. It has been a frustrating and disappointing season for Dean in terms of injury - hopefully this is the last we will hear of it. We certainly want him back - he is a duel premiership player and someone we certainly want back in the side.""