Marty Mattner has joined the coaching ranks at Adelaide in a move that has taken him back to where it all began.

The reliable defender donned the tricolours from 2002 to 2007 before moving to Sydney where he was played in the Swans’ 2012 premiership.

From 2004 to 2006, Adelaide’s current coach Don Pyke was an assistant coach at the Club, working with the midfield line.

“He (Don) was the midfield coach when I first started at the Crows… he’s a super impressive coach and I’m looking forward to working with him,” Mattner told reporters on Monday.

“It’s been a long time (since I’ve been at the Club)… I actually haven’t seen the new facilities and there’s a lot of new faces, so it really is a new beginning for me.”

Marty Mattner evades Greg Bentley during the 2007 AFL Round 18 Showdown

Sixteen years after he first arrived at West Lakes, the 36-year-old returns to his former Club after two SANFL premierships as head coach at Sturt.

He said it was tough to say goodbye to his players on Sunday after Sturt went down to North Adelaide in their elimination final.

“When I took the job at Sturt it was always going to be a stepping stone to somewhere else and I’ve been there three years so I need a new challenge and I’m really happy to be back at the Crows,” Mattner said.

“Footy has a funny way of coming back in circles and I’m just ecstatic to stay in Adelaide and I’m so happy with the opportunity the Crows have given me.

“It wasn’t perfect timing (to tell his Sturt players) as a few of the boys were pretty sad after the but I was able to sit down with every player and talk to them about their futures.

“The players and the Club were happy for me and were really supportive.”

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Returning to the AFL system, Mattner said he was looking forward to working with the elite athletes full-time.

“Coming from Sturt where we only have the players for 15 hours a week maximum to here where the players are full-time, I’m looking forward to having more time with the players,” he said.

“I’m hoping to improve my coaching and help the Crows get back to where they have been in the past.”

“Everything from my whole footy career whether it’s coaching or playing I’ve learnt things along the way that hopefully I can now pass on to other players so they can become better footballers and people.”