Natasha Hardy will return for a second season as an assistant coach for Essendon's AFLW side.

Hardy has a connection to the Bombers which goes further than her coaching career. She was Essendon's VFLW vice-captain in their inaugural VFLW season before moving into a coaching role at the club.

During her hiatus from the club, Hardy worked as an AFLW development coach at North Melbourne and a line coach at the NAB League club Calder Cannons before returning to the NEC Hangar for the Bombers' inaugural AFLW season.