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Essendon great Mark Harvey will return to the AFL club as an assistant coach, completing their match-day staff under James Hird.
While Mark Thompson’s future remains unclear, Harvey will fill the spot left by Simon Goodwin when he joined Melbourne.
Thompson is back from an overseas holiday and is in discussions with the Bombers about what he does next.
He had a successful term as interim coach this year as Hird served his 12-month AFL suspension.
Thompson said at the club’s best and fairest function at the start of the month that he did not want to go back to being a senior assistant.
Harvey, a three-time Essendon premiership player, will join the Bombers on a two-year deal.
It is understood he will take over Goodwin’s role as their midfield coach.
Harvey was senior coach at Fremantle from 2007-11, before the Dockers ruthlessly sacked him for Ross Lyon.
He was then an assistant at Brisbane and spent this season out of football.
“It’s an exciting time to be back in with the club I love and called home for so many years of my life,” Harvey said in a club statement.
“Pre-season is less than two weeks away and I can’t wait to get in and start working.”
Also on Wednesday, Essendon delisted utility Kyle Hardingham.
He was the most notable name among four players who are leaving the Bombers.
Johnny Rayner and Sean Gregory did not make their senior debuts and it was well-known that free agent Leroy Jetta would not stay at Essendon.
Hardingham played 65 games in five seasons, but only eight apiece in the last two seasons.
Earlier this month his management said Hardingham wanted to leave, in part due to the ongoing stress of the club’s supplements scandal.
“He is keen to explore greater opportunities and has advised James Hird and the club’s management of this,” SMA Sports Agents said in a statement.
“Kyle is looking for stability. The issues surrounding the club at the moment have worn him down.”
Hardingham won the club’s best team player award last year.
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