The future direction and plans coach James Hird has for the current playing group were a key to Mark Neeld deciding he wanted to join the Bombers.

The newly appointed Head of Development had a number of in depth meetings with Hird and football boss Neil Craig before accepting the role last month.

“James knows what he wants to achieve and he knows how he is going to get there in terms of the coaching and plans he has in place for the football club,” Neeld said.

“It is really good to sit down with people like James to hear their plans and how we are going to achieve that.

“It is really exciting and I want to be a part of that moving forward.”

Craig has been a mentor for Neeld throughout his coaching career including his time in charge as a senior coach at Melbourne.

“Craigy is a really educated man, not just in football coaching but across the whole sporting world and now he is doing a lot of work in administration,” Neeld said.

“He has that infectious personality that drives everybody that comes into contact with him to want to be better and keep learning.

“That is something that rubbed off on me from him and is certainly something I want to instill in the whole development group with both players and staff.

“He is an interesting fella to work with, he is very enthusiastic and you know when he is around.”

Neeld said he was looking forward to returning to working with players on a more individual basis as part of his new role.

“Sometimes when you go up the pathway of coaching you miss that connection with the players in terms of that one on one individual development,” Neeld said.

“I was really keen to get back into that so when the opportunity came to have a chat about the role and then when it was offered I jumped at the opportunity.

“Essendon with the list that we have here, well I am really looking forward to developing it even further.”

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