Essendon Football Club is pleased to announce Matthew Lloyd will return to the Bombers in a specialist part-time coaching role for the 2015 season.
The triple Coleman Medallist will use his extensive goal kicking knowledge and experience to work closely with selected individuals, including young forwards Joe Daniher and Jake Carlisle.
One of the greatest forwards to ever ‘don the sash’, Lloyd sits seventh on the AFL’s all time leading goal kickers, with 926 goals from 270 games.
The premiership player and former club captain said he was excited to be returning to the club in an official role.
“It is great to be back at Essendon, it’s obviously a place where I spent a large portion of my life,” Lloyd said.
“Goal kicking is clearly a crucial part of the game and a skill that is constantly under the spotlight, and the specialist coaching role is an opportunity that I hope will benefit the club’s young forwards,” Lloyd said.
Lloyd is no stranger to coaching, since 2009 the 36-year-old has been working as an assistant coach with the AIS-AFL Academy.
“Working with and providing younger players with the skills to play AFL football is an aspect of the game that I really enjoy.”
“The club has some very talented young forwards, they are natural competitors and have a real hunger to learn, and my role will be to work closely with them on developing and improving their goal kicking techniques and skills set.”
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Senior coach James Hird welcomed the addition of his former teammate to the club’s coaching team.
“Lloydy’s achievements as one of the greatest full-forwards in the history of the game speaks for itself, and his appointment as a specialist coach is a natural fit,” Hird said.
“He has vast experience firstly as a premiership player and triple Coleman Medallist, and also as an assistant coach of the AIS-AFL Academy.”
“I have no doubt Lloydy will assist us in developing and moulding the methods and skills sets of our forwards, and I know the players are also looking forward to tapping into his experience and knowledge.”
Lloyd will commence his new role at the club next week.
