Former Essendon premiership player Sean Wellman has been named a Bombers assistant coach in the first appointment made in the James Hird era.

The club has wasted little time in building a coaching panel to support Hird, who was appointed as senior coach on Tuesday.

Essendon football manager Paul Hamilton said he was delighted to welcome Wellman, who had been an assistant at Melbourne, back to the club.

"Following yesterday's appointment of Hird as the club's senior coach, we have begun the process of putting the best possible coaching group around him," Hamilton said.

"We know that Sean will bring a lot of coaching expertise to this group and James was particularly keen to get Sean on board as part of our coaching panel.

"Sean has had wonderful experience at the Bulldogs under Rodney Eade and at Melbourne under Dean Bailey - two coaches that we have the upmost respect for - and we think he will make a valuable contribution to the club."

Wellman played 212 games for Essendon and Adelaide from 1994-2004, as a key position player.

A member of Essendon's all-conquering 2000 premiership side, Wellman's career honours also include All-Australian selection in 1998.

After retiring from playing at the end of 2004, Wellman worked as an assistant coach at the Western Bulldogs and Melbourne.

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