The Essendon Football Club is thrilled to announce that recently retired defender Michael Hurley will remain at the Bombers in a coaching role. 

Hurley will join the coaching panel in a development role, working predominantly with the club’s first-to-four-year players through the Jack Jones Academy.

After 194 games in the red and black, Hurley announced his retirement ahead of the Bombers’ round 23 game against Richmond.

Universally loved throughout the wider football industry, Hurley’s playing career was a story of resilience, overcoming a life-threatening hip infection in 2021 to make a remarkable comeback to play five VFL games and his final AFL game. 

Throughout his recovery, Hurley worked with the Bombers’ VFL side to develop and mentor key position players. 

Hurley said he was delighted to come on board as a development coach and work with the Bombers’ young list. 

“After spending the last 14 years at the club as a player, I’m thrilled to start my next journey as a coach and give back to the club which has given me so much,” Hurley said. 

“This is a new and exciting chapter for the club. With Brad coming on board as senior coach, I look forward to working with him and the other coaches to drive standards and get the most out of our playing group.

“We have a lot of potential on our list and I am determined to create an environment that allows our developing players to become the best player and people.”

General manager of football Josh Mahoney welcomed Hurley’s addition the coaching panel. 

“We are thrilled to have ‘Hurls’ on board as a development coach and to work with our first-to-four-year players,” Mahoney said.

“He’s a much-loved figure here at Essendon, experienced the highs and lows of AFL football and we look forward to having him continue his career in the red and black as a coach.

“This appointment along with the addition of Travis Cloke are examples of our further investment into our football development program”