ESSENDON champion James Hird has joined the All-Australian selection panel.

Hird, a five-time All-Australian, will help shape the prestigious team following the decision of former Carlton premiership player Rod Austin to stand down from the panel after 10 years.

"I was fortunate enough to have the privilege to be selected in the All-Australian team in a number of years when I was a player and I was very pleased to be asked to join the panel," Hird said.

"All-Australian selection is a great recognition of an outstanding year and I look forward to the role."

Hird joins AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou (chairman), League operations manager Adrian Anderson, Kevin Bartlett, Gerard Healy, Glen Jakovich, Mark Ricciuto and Robert Walls on the selection committee.

Anderson paid tribute to the contribution of Austin and welcomed the addition of Hird.

"I am delighted James has accepted our invitation to join the committee, as we wish to add recent players and take in their views on the game and the great players who are taking the field now," Anderson said.

"James, Mark Ricciuto and Glen Jakovich can all bring the perspective of the recently-retired player to the discussions around All-Australian selection and the AFL will continue to introduce new members to our committee in the coming years."

Hird, who retired after the 2007 season, played 253 games for the Bombers over 16 seasons, winning premierships in 1993 and 2000 (captain), the 1996 Brownlow Medal, the 2000 Norm Smith Medal and club best and fairests with the Bombers in 1994, 1995, 1996, 2003 and 2007.