Spending twelve months away from the environment of a football club helped Mark Harvey rekindle his passion to return to the coaching box.

The newly appointed assistant coach will look after the club’s midfield group during the 2015 season.

After coaching stints at the Bombers, Fremantle and Brisbane spanning 14 seasons the premiership player decided to take a backward seat throughout 2014.

“Mark has been away from the game, he has had a good chance to reflect on a whole range of situations with his coaching and working out of the game,” said General Manager – Football Performance Neil Craig.

“A lot of our conversation was around a passion to do the job which is really important in this industry to have the passion to do it.

“I think the time out of the game has been really healthy for Mark, it has been a great advantage for him and he certainly comeback full of energy and passion.

“He has a great commitment to the Essendon Football Club so the purpose of why he is coaching is very strong and clear to him.”

Craig said he expected Harvey’s senior coaching experience to play a key role in working alongside fellow assistant’s Nathan Bassett and Matthew Egan.

“He is one of the three assistants and he will obviously play a big role there because he will be working with the midfield in particular.”

“James was involved in a lot of the conversations with Mark and he is very comfortable with Mark being in that role.

“I know that Mark will be of great assistance to Nathan Bassett and Matthew Egan by the experience that he brings into his club.

“The conversations that those guys have will be great professional development for those guys as coaches.”