Geelong has strengthened its football department with the addition of Matthew Egan, Harry Taylor and Jason Lappin.

Egan returns to the club as head of player development, Taylor as head of medical and conditioning services, and Lappin as football analyst.

“Matthew is well known to many at the club and has had success in many roles in football over the past decade,” Geelong’s general manager of football Simon Lloyd said.

“He started his post-playing career working in development here at the Cats, and now returns to head up that area working across our entire playing group. Matt has gained significant experience since moving to Essendon and Melbourne, and it is great to have him back at GMHBA Stadium where he is highly regarded.

“Harry has always been a leader in his time at the club, and after a year away we are pleased to have worked through a role that uses his experiences as a player in high performance and management. Harry is one of the most respected people that we have had at the club, and we are all excited to welcome him to this new role.

“Jason spent well over a decade at North Melbourne in a variety of roles, including as an assistant coach and football analyst. He has a unique skillset and will work in football analytics with us as we expand that area of our football department.”

Egan re-joins the Cats after a year away from football. Egan began his AFL journey at Geelong as a player in the VFL before being drafted in 2004. He played 59 AFL games and earned All Australian selection before a foot injury cut short his career in 2007. He moved into coaching during his injury rehabilitation and remained with the club as a development coach until the end of 2011.

Egan then moved onto Essendon where he spent five years and was named as the Bombers' interim senior coach late in the 2015 season. He switched to Melbourne in late 2016 and remained with the Demons until 2020. Egan spent the past year working at Xavier College.

Taylor is a veteran of 280 AFL games with the Cats, from 2008-2020. A dual premiership player and All Australian, Taylor spent the past year in his home state of Western Australia. During his time as a player Taylor studied physiotherapy and business management as he prepared for his post-playing career. He will take up his new role in January 2022.

Lappin joined North Melbourne in 2009 as a development coach after a successful stint as head coach of Wangaratta Magpies. He also served the Kangaroos as performance analyst, head of football performance and midfield coach. Lappin also spent two seasons with the Western Bulldogs as a player in 1996-97. Lappin spent the last year working at Ballarat Grammar School.

The club has previously announced the addition of James Kelly and Eddie Betts to the coaching staff.