DUSTIN Fletcher has moved into a coaching role at Essendon, with the AFL's oldest player hoping to make a seamless transition into the coaching landscape post-football.

Fletcher, 36, will hold a playing/coaching role at the Bombers, including sitting in on team selection, being involved in game and training strategy and swapping ideas with the coaching panel.

''The thing I will concentrate on is playing footy, that's not going to change, and now my down time will go into the coaching side of footy," Fletcher told the Herald Sun.

''Hirdy wants me to be more vocal on the ground and give more direction and he wanted me to help in football direction,'' Fletcher said.

''He's given me the respect to invite me into meetings, football idea meetings, the design of training, how we train, and game strategies."

Coach James Hird said Fletcher's development as a coach would be fast-tracked by combining roles while still playing.

''Dustin has a future in coaching. He understands the game as good as anyone I've seen and his ability to help our younger players is a real advantage for us," Hird said.

''For him, his ability to learn the coaching job as he's playing will give him an advantage when he retires at the end of this year, next year or whenever it is."

Callum Twomey covers Essendon news for AFL.com.au and essendonfc.com.au. Follow him on Twitter at @Cal_Twomey.