Former Geelong and Carlton player, Adrian Hickmott, has been appointed Essendon development coach and Bendigo Bombers coach, replacing Matthew Knights in that position. The announcement was made jointly today by the Essendon and Bendigo Bombers football clubs.

 
Hickmott - who played 184 AFL games - was renowned for his hardness and superb skills. In 2007 he coached the Gippsland Power in the TAC Cup competition.
 

Essendon senior coach, Matthew Knights, said Hickmott’s communication skills from both a development and coaching point of view were impressive.

 

“He will be able to communicate at all levels with staff, players, management and be able to give good feedback. His work ethic is very good which is what is needed in his new role,” Knights said.

 

“His wide range of coaching experiences will put him in a good position as does his record of being player that got the most out of himself and loved a contest.”

 

Bendigo Bombers Chairman, Ian Dyett, said his club’s board were excited by the calibre of nominees for the position and are very pleased with the final result.

 

“We believe the best candidate for the advancement of the club has been selected,” Dyett said.

 

“The fact that Adrian played almost 200 AFL games and has been involved in grass roots football gave us the confidence that he is the right person to guide our young people onto their future careers on the big stage.”

 

Hickmott, who will take up the appointment early next month, said he is excited by the opportunity to develop the young Essendon kids and coach the Bendigo Bombers side.

 

“It will be a rewarding job and I will continue Matthew Knights’ good work developing the kids to help them move into league footy,” Hickmott said.

 

“I plan to work hard further developing the Bendigo Bombers’ culture and the relationship with stakeholders including Essendon.”

 

In 2007 Adrian, 35, coached Gippsland Power in the TAC Competition. 

 

The married father of three was also senior coach of Shepparton in the Goulburn Valley Football League for two years (2004 and 2005) and of Rumbalara in the Murray Football League (2006).

 

He has also been a Sport and Personal Development Officer with the Academy of Sport Health and Education, Melbourne University campus in Shepparton for almost three years.

 

As a player, Adrian was recruited from Horsham by Geelong and made his AFL senior debut in 1992 before being transferred to Carlton in 1996. He went on to play 184 AFL games (Geelong, 50 and Carlton,134).

 

Adrian played for Victoria in 2000 and was twice named Best Clubman at Carlton (1999 and 2002) where he was deputy vice-captain in 2002 and 2003, and captained the team for the last three games of the 2002 season.

Adrian’s leadership and communication skills were recognised at Carlton and he was a mentor for many of the young, developing players.

 

Essendon’s dedicated on-field development resources have now doubled this year with the previously announced appointment of Ashley Prescott.  Ashley, who played for Richmond and Fremantle and has coached Claremont in the WAFL for the past 4 years, will join the Bombers before pre-season training on 7th of November. 

 

Hickmott will focus on the 1-4 year players and Prescott on the 5-year plus players

 

Knights has also already announced Mark Cera as Essendon rehabilitation coach and Bendigo Bombers' fitness coach for 2008. Cera has been working at Guangdong Institute of Sport in China where he trained athletes and coaches in scientific training methods.

 

Gary O’Donnell will continue as an assistant coach with Essendon and the final assistant coach position is expected to be announced in the near future.