FORMER West Coast premiership forward Ashley Hansen has been given the opportunity to coach Footscray's VFL team after a minor reshuffling of roles in the Western Bulldogs' football department.

Hansen will take on the defending premiers after two years as development coach at the Bulldogs. His playing career finished in 2010 after 78 games.

The change has seen Chris Maple – who coached Footscray to the VFL flag in 2014 – take up a position as head of the club's player development program next season.

Maple has a huge reputation in development having won the AFL Coaches' Association Development Coach of the Year in 2013 and takes on responsibility for developing a list with a plethora of young talent.

"My remit is to help our younger players reach their potential, so nothing has changed from that viewpoint," Maple told the club's website.

New senior coach Luke Beveridge has retained Brett Montgomery, who was also a candidate for the club's senior position, as his senior assistant. 

Montgomery is well regarded within the Bulldogs and has a good relationship with many players.

Former Geelong premiership players Joel Corey and Steven King will work together as midfield assistants with Corey responsible for stoppage systems and King handling the midfield.

New assistant coach, the recently retired Daniel Giansiracusa, is the club's forwardline coach and Rohan Smith will enter his third season as backline coach.

Beveridge said when he was appointed he looked forward to working with the existing coaching group and the club would make any additions to the structure once a determination was made as to what was required.

The Bulldogs also settled on new captain Robert Murphy soon after Beveridge was appointed in November.