MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 01: Trent Cotchin of the Tigers and Tigers head coach Damien Hardwick lift up the Premiership cup as players celebrate winning yesterday's AFL Grand Final, at Punt Road Oval on October 1, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)

Richmond has lost a key member of its premiership winning team, with Essendon poaching highly rated football boss, Dan Richardson.

Richardson, who has worked with the Tigers' football department for the past five years, has worked as the club's football manager and football talent boss.

“I would like to thank the Richmond Football Club, in particular the board led by Peggy O’Neill, Brendon Gale, Neil Balme, Blair Hartley, Damian Hardwick, Trent Cotchin and the playing group, who I have learned so much from over the past five years,” Richardson said.

“Career decisions are always difficult to make and this has certainly been one of those occasions.

“The opportunity for my ongoing professional development presented by Xavier and the Essendon Football Club was compelling and I am looking forward to this exciting new challenge.

“Essendon is heading in a positive direction on and off the field and I look forward to getting down to business and helping them build on the strong foundations they have established in recent years.”

Richmond CEO Brendon Gale added: “Dan has played an important role at the club over the past five years and can look back with pride on the contribution he has made to our success.

“We thank Dan, his wife Sally and their family for being a part of the Richmond Football Club and wish them all the best for the future.”

Richardson will officially begin his his new role at the Bombers on January 8.