Simon Goodwin’s hard work during the 2013 season has seen him promoted to senior assistant coach.

The 36-year-old’s appointment to the role was confirmed at the press conference to announce the new look coaching team for season 2014.

Goodwin, who took part in the interview process for the senior coaching role, said he was excited about further developing his skills set.

“I’m really looking forward to working closely with Bomber. He’s a dual premiership coach so I’ll be trying to absorb as much experience and knowledge from him as possible,” Goodwin said.   

“I’ve been on the record as saying I want to be a senior coach, whether that’s next season or in three years time we’ll have to wait and see.

“I’m just focused on the job I have to do next season which is to make sure, as a club, we continue to improve and play a brand of football that can stand up against the best sides in the competition.”

Bomber Thompson said Goodwin deserved his promotion to the senior assistant role.

 “For the second half of this year he was basically doing a fair bit of the work, and he put in an enormous amount of work, when we’d gone,” Thompson said.

“We are going to train him up to be a senior coach, that’s what we’re committed to, and whether it’s at Essendon or somewhere else he certainly has the skills to do it.

“He’s a quality person and we’re going to help him.”

Simon is also excited about the prospect of working alongside his former coach in Neil Craig.

“I obviously played under Neil for a large part of my career, and it’s great that we now have the opportunity to rekindle our relationship at Essendon.”

“Neil brings so much experience to the club and I have no doubt he will be a great mentor not just for the coaches but the entire football department staff.”

“For the coaches to be able to tap into one of the great minds in football will be priceless.”

Goodwin will take a well earned holiday before returning to the club to continue pre-season preparations.

He will also be in charge of the club’s return to Boulder, Colorado for its high-altitude training camp in late November.

“This year will be a little bit different due to the sheer size of the group.”

“The training camp is a great opportunity for our group to build a really strong fitness base in order to be able to stand up to the aerobic demands of the season.”