ESSENDON coaching legend Kevin Sheedy has pleaded with the AFL industry to welcome Dean Wallis back into its ranks.

Wallis was one of Sheedy's favourite players at the Bombers and was a member of the 1993 and 2000 premiership teams.

However, he departed the club under acrimonious circumstances in 2013 as part of the fall-out from the supplements scandal, and Fairfax Media reported earlier this year that Wallis was seeking WorkSafe compensation from the club and also alleging that a fraud took place involving a healthcare rebate.

There were also suggestions of a blackmail investigation by the police.

Still, Sheedy wants his close friend to be part of the AFL scene once more, telling The Four Hoarsemen Podcast this week that Wallis, who played 127 games for the Bombers and also worked on the coaching staff at St Kilda and Fremantle, was one of the best assistant coaches he ever had.

"I've told some clubs to go and get him because his preparation is the best I've ever had from any assistant coach," Sheedy said. 

"Statistically he presented a case of why I should get certain recruits as an assistant coach, not overriding the recruiting department but assisting the recruiting department in getting players that would've been very good for us to have a chance at a Grand Final.

"His performance in that area was incredible, particularly when he played football like I did which was, we'll just say, reckless. So, for a reckless person, I've never known a more dedicated, professional and prepared person as a full-time assistant coach as he was."

Wallis was suspended from football in 2011 for betting on three AFL games.

"Obviously he got smashed for a while because he had a dollar bet on footy, and of course when that happens everyone wants to kill you, which is unfortunate," Sheedy said.

"But I think in the end I will always try and convince AFL clubs to recruit Dean Wallis as a coach because he's an extremely loyal person and he's a very well-planned person, and I think people in their 40s are right at the prime age to develop into the excitement of the next 25 years of their life."

Sheedy remains involved with the Bombers in a marketing and promotional role and said he was speaking in his capacity as a friend of Wallis, who now coaches Doutta Stars in the Essendon District League.

"He'll always be one of my best friends. I don't worry about all the arguments or fights that football clubs have, otherwise I would have been out of the game 50 years ago," Sheedy said.

"It's only about differences of opinion about things, and to me Dean Wallis deserves every opportunity to either come back to Essendon or move to a club where he feels happy and comfortable."

Sheedy also said time would soon heal any wounds between the Bombers and favourite son and former coach James Hird, the most high-profile casualty of the supplements scandal.

"When both parties are happy to dance together, it won't be that long," he said. "Don't rush things, because we don't need another accident.

"We'll get it right and our fans will love seeing it all back together like it used to be."