It’s been a smooth transition for Ricky Dyson in his first weeks as an Essendon VFL Assistant Coach.

Taking on the role in a part-time capacity whilst still teaching and coaching at Parade College, the former 114-game Bomber returns to the NEC Hangar for the first time since 2019, where he also served as a VFL line coach.

With added experience under his belt since then - including back-to-back Herald Sun Shield titles as Parade’s coach and premiership successes with NFNL club Bundoora - Dyson’s return to the fold at the Bombers has also been made easier working closely with former teammates such as Development Coach Michael Hurley.

“I’ve really enjoyed being back,” Dyson said.

“It makes the transition really easy when you already have connections with the people you’ll be coaching with. Obviously, the people here are a fantastic bunch and getting back out there to meet as many players as possible has been really promising.

“The way they’ve all come back and started their pre-season has been really impressive, but even having the opportunity to work with Dale (Tapping) has been really exciting for me personally, that played a big part in coming across.”

The interplay between the Bombers’ AFL and VFL programs has been a key focus area within the club over the last 12 months, with Development Coaches spreading time across both squads and helping to build connections between them.

Dyson’s integration was aided with a first week on deck primarily spent amongst AFL training sessions, getting accustomed to the wider coaching panel at the club.

“Having that support from guys who are here all day already working with the AFL program has been a massive help for me,” Dyson said.

“What’s already evident is the amount of support for the VFL program, even from the AFL coaches. They’ve welcomed me with open arms and it’s been fantastic to start.

“Having that opportunity to spend time with the AFL program a couple of weeks ago, sitting in meetings and getting out on the track for training has really helped ease me into the role.

“I’ll have a fair bit of interplay with AFL Midfield Coaches ‘Gia’ (Daniel Giansiracusa) and ‘Stants’ (Brent Stanton) on account of that as well, so I’m looking forward to seeing that dynamic throughout the year.”

Dyson’s former students from Parade in Nate Caddy, Isaac Kako and Zak Johnson are also on board for 2025, providing familiarity on both sides for player and coach alike.

While those inclusions are helpful for Dyson, he’s also hopeful he can continue to play a part in the progression of their AFL journeys, continuation from his impact as a teacher and coach.

“It’s been nice to see some familiar faces,” Dyson said.

“Obviously, I’ve had a small part to play in their journey so far and there’ll probably be some overlap there throughout 2025 at VFL level. I think even for them, having someone around who they’re familiar with will be beneficial in their development.”