Essendon has bolstered its coaching group by appointing former Adelaide player James Byrne as development coach.
Byrne played 24 games for the Crows from 2000-01, before winning club best and fairests with Glenelg in the SANFL and South Fremantle in the WAFL. He joined Geelong's VFL team in 2004, and captained the side to a VFL premiership in 2007, also winning the J.J. Liston Trophy.
He retired at the end of 2008 and worked as a stockbroker, but has built up his coaching credentials through part-time and voluntary development coaching roles with Geelong and Collingwood.
Paul Hamilton, Essendon general manager of football operations, said Byrne had fitted the club's criteria to fill the development role.
""We think he's an outstanding person, which is always one thing we're looking for,"" Hamilton told essendonfc.com.au.
""He's got really good human qualities and that really attracted us to him. He's been angling and looking for a way to get back into football, and has been building up his resume in that time.""
Byrne's main role will be working with the Bombers' first to third-year players and managing the Jack Jones Development Academy at the club.
Hamilton said Byrne, 33, will be able to build a strong relationship with the younger players, but that his role will not be restricted to the younger core of Essendon's list.
""That's his priority, but it's not limited to that,"" Hamilton said.
""It's an exciting role for him and we're excited to have him. We think he'll make some really good changes and we think he'll be really good for our players and their development. He's already shown a lot of initiative in a very short time he's been here.
""He's a personable type of guy and he'll build up that rapport with the playing group without too many problems, which is obviously important,"" he said.
Byrne is another addition to the Bombers with strong links to Geelong, including assistant coaches Mark Thompson and Matthew Egan, and high performance manager Dean Robinson. Brendan McCartney was also an assistant at Essendon last season before accepting the senior role at the Western Bulldogs.
Hamilton said each had brought strong qualities to Essendon from the Cats, and expected Byrne to do the same.
""They're all a little bit different from each other, but I'd say what they all possess is high standards. That's what probably stands out,"" he said.
A third development coach will be added by the club before the 2012 season begins.
