Richardson joins Gary O’Donnell, Ashley Prescott and Scott Camporeale as assistant coaches under senior coach Matthew Knights. Adrian Hickmott also forms part of Essendon’s coaching panel in the role of development coach/senior coach of the Bendigo Bombers.
Essendon chief operating officer, Travis Auld, said Richardson will be valuable addition to the club.
“Alan has built up a considerable reputation for his work with young footballers through his time at both Collingwood, leading their player development program, and the Western Bulldogs as assistant coach/development coach,” Auld said.
“Alan is known as a quality person who will bring with him some fantastic experience that is particularly relevant to where our list is at.
“Whilst Alan will have the normal responsibilities of an assistant coach, he will also be of great assistance to Ashley Prescott and Adrian Hickmott in further consolidating our player development program.
“This is a further investment by the club in fast tracking the development of our list, on and off-field. Alan’s appointment, along with the recent appointments of Stuart Cormack and Paul Hamilton, allows us to approach 2009 with the confidence that we can really build on what we have achieved this year.”
Richardson thanked Collingwood and said that the opportunity presented by Essendon to be involved back in mainstream coaching of a senior team was very attractive to him.
“I have always had massive respect for Essendon with the success they have had and the success they demand,” Richardson said.
“The last time Collingwood played the Bombers I couldn’t help but be impressed with the young playing list. I believe the Essendon group is going in the right direction and I want to play a role assisting Matthew Knights and the other coaches in further developing the list.
“Having achieved what I set out to achieve at Collingwood with setting up their player academy, now is a good time for a change and I am very excited by this new opportunity.”
Richardson will start at Essendon next month.
Prior to working at Collingwood and the Bulldogs he had senior coaching stints at East Burwood (EDFL) and Coburg (VFL).
Today’s appointment follows yesterday’s announcement that Adelaide Crows assistant coach, Paul Hamilton, will join Essendon in the new position of football operations manager.
Last month former West Coast Eagles head fitness coach, Stuart Cormack, was appointed as high performance coach.
