As the development coach, Schmidt will be charged with the responsibility of overseeing the Bombers’ Bendigo-based group, with senior coach Shannon Grant to be primarily based in Melbourne.

Along with being in charge of the Bombers’ Bendigo players during the week, Schmidt will also oversee the club’s newly-established development squad.

Players in the development squad won’t be listed with the Bombers, but will be given access to the club’s program to complement their training and playing commitments with their own club.

Schmidt takes on the position with the Bombers having spent the past two seasons as coach of Goulburn Valley Football League club Rochester.

The 34-year-old coached the Tigers to the flag in 2008, while they were beaten in the preliminary final by eventual premier Mansfield this year, having earlier ended the home and away season two games clear at the top of the ladder.

Schmidt is not new to VFL football in Bendigo, having previously played with the Bombers and Bendigo Diggers, before joining Rochester in 2004.

“This is a new challenge that I really wanted to have a go at and see how I go,” Schmidt said yesterday.

“We all have our own ideas about football and how it should be played, and it’s really exciting to be able to have that association with Essendon.

“The Bendigo Bombers are basically going to be based on what Essendon is doing . . . we’re going to be moulded exactly on what they do and I think it’s really exciting to be able to help teach young kids how to play an AFL brand of football.”

As part of his position, Schmidt will also be a match-day assistant coach to Grant, who was appointed the new Bombers’ coach last month.

Schmidt - who is also a dual Bendigo Football League premiership player with Kyneton - will start in his new role on Monday when the Bombers hold their first pre-season training session at Strathdale’s Beischer Park.