Bombers committee member Jake Harkness said Hammond would stay on as a player in 2009.

"He has been a passionate member of Cobden for 20 years," Harkness said.

"He's still going to play with Cobden, he just had work commitments which make him unable to continue as coach."

Harkness said the club was delighted that Walsh was continuing.

Next year will mark Walsh's third season at the helm.

"We are glad that he's going to be taking the reins again," he said.

"He coached us to a grand final and a preliminary final. We were happy with how everything went this year and think we'll have another good season next year."

Cobden also announced that Maskell medallist Wayne Robertson would be the club's chairman of selectors and junior development and recruiting officer.

The Bombers reached this year's preliminary final, where they went down to Warrnambool by 15 points.