DUAL premiership captain Mark Bickley will return to Adelaide as an assistant coach for seasons 2009 and 2010.

Bickley, who played 272 games for the Crows from 1991 to 2003, continued his involvement in football through roles in the media and his position as an All-Australian selector.

The 39-year-old will see out his contract with Channel 9 and join Neil Craig's coaching staff in November, though his responsibilities are yet to be determined.

"Mark’s wealth of experience and football knowledge, coupled with his qualities as a person, will be a great asset to the club," Craig said in a statement released by Adelaide on Wednesday evening.

"Mark has played in the midfield and in defence and this gives the club great flexibility in the coaching roles."

Bickley looks forward to returning to the club that he led to successive flags in its seventh and eighth seasons in the competition.

"I have really enjoyed my time at Channel 9, however, I have decided that football is my passion and I want to be involved at the highest level and, fortunately for me, I am able to return to my club to pursue that passion," he said.

A member of Adelaide's inaugural squad, Bickley made his name as a no-nonsense half-back and could have held out Nigel Smart as the first Crow to play 250 games if not for a rare undisciplined act against Port Adelaide's Darryl Wakelin that saw him suspended for five weeks.

Stranded on 248, he broke his leg when representing Australia in the International Rules Series later that year, but returned to play every game of his farewell season.

While gaining Bickley, Adelaide lost assistant Paul Hamilton, who ended his four-year tenure to become Essendon's new football operations manager.