Essendon Football Club has appointed former Bombers midfielder Heath Hocking as Coach of the James Hird Academy.

Hocking brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the role after an 11-year career at the Club.

Hocking was delisted at the end of the 2017 season after 126 games at Essendon, but returned to the club to play in the VFL despite receiving offers with other VFL sides.

The tough midfielder had an outstanding season in the VFL last year, playing 16 games and claiming the R.A Freeman Medal as the side’s Best and Fairest.

The James Hird Academy focuses on the development of Essendon’s father-son and talented Next Generation Academy prospects in the Bombers Academy, and Hocking said he is excited to work with younger players and help guide them towards a career in football.

“The James Hird Academy was set up nine years ago now and it’s about trying to accelerate some of the good talent in our area and father-son guys to hopefully play AFL football,” Hocking said.

“We have a good group of players in the system who all have ambitions to play at the elite level.

“It is about having them at the footy club once a week, I will share some of my football knowledge with them including how to prepare and the skills of the game so they can improve and hopefully get the opportunity to perform at a higher level.”

Hocking is excited about beginning his coaching journey with the James Hird Academy.  

“It was a chance to start my career as a coach and see if that was something that could flourish. I am doing a level two coaching course, so this will complement that,” he said.

“My passion at the moment is to get some young guys through and teach them what AFL is about and hopefully build their skills and get them drafted.”

Essendon List and Recruiting Manager Adrian Dodoro said he was thrilled to welcome Hocking into the position.

“Heath has all the qualities to be a great mentor to the young boys in the JHA, he is an outstanding person who loves the red and black,” Dodoro said.

“It’s great that a recently retired player like Heath is committed to the future success of the club which again demonstrates the type of person he is.”

The James Hird Academy is made up of three groups: The Acceleration Group (16-18 years old), The Flight Squad (11-15 years of age) and the Baby Bombers (up to ten years old).

Current Essendon-listed players Joe Daniher and Jake Long are graduates of the James Hird Academy.