Gary O'Donnell Biography

Former Essendon assistant coach Gary O'Donnell has returned to the Brisbane Lions as an assistant to Michael Voss.

"The club has, from afar, been in a little bit of turmoil but with new people coming into the club and the environment that Vossy's trying to create to get the best out of his playing group, it all looks onwards and upwards for the club," O'Donnell said.

"I'll come with no agendas, I'm true to the senior coach, I'm backing his philosophy and helping him be a better coach as well, and hopefully getting the best out of the playing group."

Essendon assistant coach Gary O'Donnell has ruled himself out of taking on a senior coaching role next year despite vacancies at North Melbourne and Richmond.

"No and I am not in the running for any of those jobs," he said while adding that potential coaches did not necessarily have to serve as assistants before assuming a senior role.

"Each individual is different. We saw Michael Voss virtually didn't have an assistant coaching role anywhere. Some guys can go straight in to it. It's horses for courses," he said.

"You get the right person for the right club at the right time it doesn't matter what they've done in their past."

Essendon midfielder Brent Prismall managed to play 45 minutes in the VFL in his return from an ACL injury.

"He looked to be reading the ball well and he got about a dozen touches," Bombers assistant Gary O'Donnell said.

"It was all you could ask of him at this stage and I know he will be pleased to be back out there. It has been a hard slog for him - it is great that he can now get back out there and do what he does best."