Former North Melbourne premiership player and Norm Smith Medallist Shannon Grant has been appointed coach of the Bendigo Bombers for 2010.

The 32-year-old played over 300 AFL games before retiring at end of the 2008 season.

He spent the past year as coach of the Frankston VFL side.

Essendon's general manager of football operations, Paul Hamilton, said there were a number of quality candidates for the job.

"Shannon has boundless enthusiasm and energy for the Bendigo job which will be important," Hamilton said in a statement.

"He has a good football brain, is a hard worker and enjoyed a successful AFL career so we think he is a good fit for Bendigo.

"One of the big attractions with Shannon is that he is fresh out of playing AFL football which will help him relate well with the players."

Grant said he had been given a great opportunity to work with Essendon's developing players.

"It's a pretty important role for both clubs and I will work closely with both groups," he said.

"Essendon has a young, developing list that could become a great list and the opportunity to be a part of that is an opportunity worth chasing up."

Grant replaces Adrian Hickmott who has accepted a full-time development role with Essendon.

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