Essendon Senior Recruiting Coordinator Merv Keane has announced he will be moving on from The Hangar.

Keane joined the Bombers 30 years ago after a stellar 13-year playing career for Richmond where he played in three premierships from 238 games and was subsequently named in the Tigers’ Team of the Century.

He has had a number of roles at Essendon, first starting as a coach under the guidance of Kevin Sheedy before later plying his trade in the recruiting team which he has undertaken with great success.

GM of List and Recruiting Adrian Dodoro was full of praise for Keane and said he was disappointed to see him leave the club.

“Merv will be a huge loss to the football club, he has made an outstanding contribution to our recruiting department over the past 11 years,” Dodoro said.

“Although disappointed, we respect the decision that Merv has made and we wish him all the very best in the future.

“He is an amazing person with immense integrity and has given nearly 50 years of continuous service to the AFL industry, as a champion player, coach, runner and recruiter.”

Keane will now devote his time to raising awareness to health and wellbeing issues amongst young junior doctors, something he has already begun at the Royal Women’s Hospital.

“I wish to thank the Essendon Football Club and appreciate all the opportunities the club has given me. Although the timing isn’t ideal, I feel that I need to pursue these new projects and that time is now,” Keane said.

“I wish to thank the club for understanding the situation of myself and family and for supporting our health and wellbeing project for junior doctors.

“My experience within the AFL industry will enable me to develop a program that is close to my heart in honour of my beautiful daughter Emily”.

Former Essendon player Rob Forster-Knight is set to take on Keane’s role immediately.

Forster-Knight played 31 games for the Bombers from 2001 to 2003 and has played a vital role at the club since returning seven years ago.

“I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Rob Forster-Knight on his appointment as Recruiting Manager, replacing Merv,” Dodoro said.

“He came on board in the recruiting department in 2011 as a Recruiting Analyst and thoroughly deserves the opportunity to head up our recruiting network going forward.”