Essendon has appointed former player Brent Prismall as the Club's Head of Development ahead of the 2027 Toyota AFL Premiership Season.

The 40-year-old returns to the Club after more than a decade at the Western Bulldogs, where he has been Player Welfare Manager since the end of 2012.

In that time Prismall has been part of eight finals campaigns with the Bulldogs, including the 2016 Premiership and 2021 Grand Final campaigns, and has worked closely with the young players who have driven the club's rise.

Prismall played 61 AFL games, 25 at Geelong and 36 at Essendon, before moving into player welfare at the end of his playing career in 2012.

Essendon CEO Tim Roberts said Prismall's experience made him the right person for the new role.

"We're rapt to have Brent as our Head of Development,” Roberts said.

"Brent has built a strong reputation at the Dogs. The length of his time there says a lot about how highly he is regarded, particularly by the young players who have driven that club's success in recent seasons.

"He has also been through the system as a player at Essendon and Geelong, and our players will relate to that.

"We are putting our football structure in place under Senior Coach Mark McVeigh, and this is an important appointment. Development is a major focus for us, and this role will make sure every player on our list has a clear plan to improve.

"We look forward to welcoming Brent, his wife Nicole and their children Jarvis and Smith to the Club."

Prismall said he was looking forward to returning to Essendon.

"It's great to be coming back to Essendon. It's a club with a proud history and a big supporter base, and there's a real sense of energy around where it's heading. Being part of the start of a new chapter is a great opportunity," Prismall said.

"We've got a talented young group of players, and development is going to be a big part of how this Club gets to where it wants to go. My job is to help each player get the most out of their ability, on and off the field. Working alongside a new coaching group led by Mark that shares that commitment was a big part of the appeal for me.

"I want to thank the Western Bulldogs for their support over the past 13 years. I've learned a lot there, worked with some outstanding people and been part of some special moments. It's a club that will always mean a lot to me and my family, and I can't wait to get started here."

Prismall will join the Club in the coming weeks ahead of pre-season training.