RICHMOND has appointed Blake Caracella as an assistant coach in 2017.

Caracella has spent the past seven seasons at Geelong, including the 2011 premiership triumph, and was also at Collingwood from 2007-09.

He also played in two premierships during his 187-game career at Essendon, the Brisbane Lions and Collingwood.

He played alongside Richmond coach Damien Hardwick in the Bombers' 2000 flag and then in the Lions' 2003 flag after the Bombers had to trade him due to their salary cap.

An astute reader of the game as a player, he has taken that skill into the coach's box as an influential strategist and game-day coach.

Caracella was one of the first assistants accepted into the level-four coaching program run by the AFL.

Richmond is appointing a new set of assistant coaches for 2017 as Hardwick enters the season under pressure with two years of his contract remaining.

The club recently completed its football department review after disappointing results in 2016.

Caracella's appointment coincides with the Tigers appointment of Neil Balme as football manager. Balme was football manager alongside Caracella at the Cats for five years.

"Blake has impressive credentials, experiencing great success throughout his playing and coaching career, and we're really excited that he's joining our coaching ranks,"Balme told Richmondfc.com.au.