Essendon Football Club is pleased to announce Mark Neeld has been appointed to the coaching panel as Head of Player Development.

Reporting to the General Manager of Football Performance – Neil Craig, Neeld will be responsible for managing all aspects of the Player Development Program, specifically working with the club’s first to third year players.

Neeld said he was excited to join the Bombers on the eve of a new pre-season campaign.

“I am very excited about this opportunity at the Essendon Football Club,” Neeld said.

“Through my years working in the football industry, I have had a strong passion to assist the development of young footballers and watch them strive to reach their potential.

“From what I can see, the club has a terrific young list and I am looking forward to working closely with the coaching panel to foster the progress of our players, particularly in the early stages of their career.”

Craig said Neeld brings strong credentials to an important role within the football department.

“We are thrilled Mark has joined the club in the role of Head of Player Development for the next two years,” Craig said.

“Mark has significant experience in player development through roles at an AFL level working at Melbourne and with Collingwood’s midfield, with the Western Jets in the TAC Cup and more recently with AFL Victoria as a Talent Manager.”

Senior coach James Hird welcomed the addition of Neeld to the club’s coaching panel.

"In the time I spent with Mark during the interview process, it was evident he has a strong passion for football and in particular developing players,” Hird said.

“He brings a variety of experience and importantly was involved in a very successful performance environment at Collingwood that achieved the ultimate success in 2010."

Neeld will lead the club’s development team with Hayden Skipworth and Paul Corrigan for 2015.

Neeld played for both Geelong and Richmond and held an assistant coaching role at Collingwood between 2008-2011, before being appointed senior coach at Melbourne from 2012-2013.