ESSENDON has finalised its match-day coaching panel for next season with the return of favourite son Mark Harvey as senior assistant coach.
 
The triple-premiership player is back at Essendon for the first time since 2005, when he moved to Fremantle after an eight-season stint as an assistant to the legendary Kevin Sheedy.
 
Harvey has taken over the position vacated by Simon Goodwin and will work in support of senior coach James Hird next season.
 
The 49-year-old has signed a two-year deal and joins fellow assistants Matt Egan and Nathan Bassett on the coaching staff.
 
Although the Bombers have filled their match-day coaching positions, a club spokesman told AFL.com.au Harvey's appointment did not preclude 2014 senior coach Mark Thompson from staying at Essendon.
 
Harvey, who was inducted into Essendon's Hall of Fame earlier this year, re-joins the Bombers after 12 months out of the game.

He last coached as an assistant at the Brisbane Lions in 2012 and '13, following a 95-game stint as Fremantle's head coach that ended in acrimonious circumstances with his sacking and the appointment of Ross Lyon in 2011.

Harvey said he was keen to work with a talented list at Essendon, where he played 206 games and won a best and fairest in 1992.

"It's really exciting to be back at Essendon," Harvey said.

"After a year away from football, I feel really refreshed and energised about the role I can play to help the team succeed.

"We have some terrific talent on our playing list and I'm looking forward to working closely with Hirdy and the other coaches to support the players.

"It's an exciting time to be back in with the club I love and called home for so many years of my life. Pre-season is less than two weeks away, I can't wait to get in and start working."

Essendon's general manager of football performance Neil Craig was confident Harvey's experience would be a valuable addition to the Bombers.

"We are delighted to have secured someone of Mark Harvey's calibre and experience," Craig said.

"After a thorough recruitment process with a number of number of high quality candidates interviewed for the role, Mark's knowledge of the game, experience as a senior coach and passion to return to football left us in no doubt he was the right person for our coaching structure.

"We are confident Mark is the best fit for our football club. He will be able to make an immediate impact on our plying list and play an important role alongside assistant coaches Matt Egan and Nathan Bassett, and in supporting senior coach James Hird."

MARK HARVEY
Playing career 1984-1997
Games played at Essendon: 206
Premierships: 1984, 1985, 1993
Best and fairest: 1992
Leading goalkicker: 1985
All Australian: 1985, 1993

Coaching career 1997-2013
Assistant coach at Essendon: 1997-2005
Assistant coach at Fremantle: 2006
Senior coach at Fremantle: 2007-2011 (38 wins, 57 losses)
Coaching strategist at Brisbane Lions: 2012-13
Interim senior coach at Lions: 2013 (two wins, one loss)