The strengthening of Essendon’s Football Department continued today with the appointment of Leigh Tudor, Brent Stanton and Ben Jacobs to key full-time coaching roles.

Tudor will return to take charge of the VFL Bombers in 2023, a position he held in 2021 where the club only played 10 games during a COVID-interrupted season. Tudor joined Essendon in 2019 after a seven-year stint as an assistant coach at North Melbourne and is now the club’s first full-time VFL Senior Coach.

Essendon VFL coach Leigh Tudor. (Photo: AFL Photos)

Former Bombers star Brent Stanton, whose playing career ended in 2017 after 255 games, will become a full-time development coach in 2023, with specific focus on the club’s fundamental contest craft.

Stanton will also have a gameday role with the senior team.

Stanton returned to Essendon at the end of the 2021 season after spending four seasons at Carlton in various coaching roles, including midfield and transition coach.

After 10 years in the AFL as a player for North Melbourne and Port Adelaide and a season at St Kilda in 2022 as a development and assistant coach, Ben Jacobs will join Essendon’s new coaching panel.

Jacobs will join the Bombers as the assistant midfield coach.

Brad Scott with Ben Jacobs during their time at North Melbourne. (Photo: AFL Photos)

At St Kilda, the 30-year-old was key to developing the next generation of footballers working across both the AFL and VFL programs. Jacobs will reunite with former coach Brad Scott who he played seven seasons under at North Melbourne.

General manager, football Josh Mahoney said the new appointments confirmed the club’s commitment to providing the best environment and structure for players to excel. 

“We’ve acknowledged the football department will look different next year,” Mahoney said.

"We have set out to create a coaching structure and team of coaches who each play to their strengths and can develop all of our playing group.”

“To announce a full-time VFL coach, highlights the important role that our VFL program plays in the development of our players and our commitment to this competition.”

“These changes play to Leigh’s extensive coaching experience in returning him into the senior coaching role as well as Brent’s craft and teaching skills in a full-time role. We also welcome Ben’s expertise as a midfielder and his stoppage skills to aid the development of our midfield group." Mahoney said.

Essendon will soon make an announcement on the two newly created positions - General manager of performance and head of development – who will both report into Josh Mahoney. The new AFL coaching structure under AFL senior coach Brad Scott will also be finalised in the coming weeks.

Tudor, Stanton and Jacobs join Michael Hurley and Travis Cloke as new appointments within the coaching team.