Veteran assistant Brian Royal has been appointed to the coaching staff of a fifth AFL club after leaving St Kilda for a second stint at Melbourne.

Royal, 48, replaces Sean Wellman, who has returned to Essendon to work under their new coach James Hird.

After a 199-game career as a player at the Western Bulldogs, Royal has worked as a reserves or assistant coach at five clubs over the last 15 years.

He previously worked at the Demons under Neale Daniher when they made the 2000 grand final.

Former Demons captain Todd Viney has also left Adelaide to return to Melbourne as their development manager.

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