Craig Vozzo returns to Essendon as football operations manager

Essendon has appointed Craig Vozzo as general manager of football operations at the Australian rules football club in Melbourne.

He will oversee operations, compliance, medical and wellbeing matters, list management and player payments.

Vozzo will work alongside performance manager John Longmire, whose role focuses on coaching, high performance and player development.

Vozzo previously led football at West Coast from 2013 to 2021, when the club won the 2018 premiership, and later served three years as Essendon's CEO.

The appointments are part of a wider rebuild under coach Mark McVeigh, who has brought in several new football staff.

Essendon says the pair are in place ahead of pre-season, and they will work to strengthen the football program and support players.