ESSENDON great James Hird will step back into an official football role this weekend when he joins Triple M's commentary team.

The former Bombers coach will be a part of the station's team to call the Essendon and St Kilda clash at Marvel Stadium on Saturday as he begins a regular role in the box.

Hird appeared on a regular podcast last season with former Hawthorn star Shane Crawford, but this is the 46-year-old's first return to a mainstream football position since departing as Essendon coach at the end of 2015.

The 1996 Brownlow medalist and two-time premiership player was coach of the Bombers from 2011-2015, which saw him at the helm during the club's supplements saga.

After being banned from coaching for 12 months, Hird missed the 2014 season and returned to the coaches' box in 2015.

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However, with the Bombers' spiralling down the ladder that season while still engulfed by the anti-doping furore, Hird left as coach late in the year.

Hird was a key media figure before taking on the Essendon coaching position, including being a commentator and panelist for Fox Footy.

"It's a privilege for Triple M footy to have one of the greatest players of the AFL era join our team," said the station's content director Ewan Giles.

"James has one of the sharpest footy minds and will be a massive asset to the call team."