Essendon has confirmed John Worsfold as its new senior coach for at least the next three years.
The 2006 West Coast premiership coach is the permanent replacement for James Hird, who resigned in August and was replaced by interim coach Matthew Egan for the final three games of the season.
"It's a great opportunity to step in and help build the next premiership team of the Essendon footy club," Worsfold said on the club's website.
"Pre-season training will start fairly quickly and I'm really looking forward to that, getting the guys together, motivated and ready to do the hard work that we know it takes to be a premiership side in this competition.
"It will be tough and it will be a hard slog. There will be a lot of footy work.
"I'm really excited about it and looking forward to it."
Worsfold is returning to the hot seat after a two-year absence having resigned from West Coast after 12 seasons, with a win-loss record of 140-117 and two draws.
The club's longest serving coach, he led the Eagles to Grand Finals in 2005 and 2006, winning the 2006 premiership with one of the game's great midfields.
Worsfold joined the Laws of the Game Committee in 2014 after leaving the Eagles and was appointed as chairman of the AFL Coaches Association later that year, replacing coaching great David Parkin.
When the 47-year-old's former assistant Phil Walsh was tragically killed this year, Worsfold joined Adelaide as interim coaching director and his energy to coach was sparked.
"I never lost the passion but I was tired at the end of my reign, 12 years at West Coast," Worsfold said on Monday.
"I needed a break and it would have been the wrong thing to remain coach of that group without the energy to do it.
"AFL footy is my passion, it's what I love doing, and it's why I've done it for 26 years.
"I feel refreshed and energetic and really ready to do the job."
He said he was determined to be the club's net premiership coach.
"I'd love to, absolutely, if they give me enough time we'll get there," he said.
"It might be done in three years, if not it might take four.
"The aim is to give this club the opportunity to have a squad that's capable of winning a premiership and grabbing that opportunity."
The new coach said he had 10 assistants in mind to speak to about filling any vacant positions on the Essendon panel.
