A former colleague of Phil Walsh at West Coast, David Teague was sounded out to join the Crows when Walsh was appointed senior coach in October.

Teague, who played 83 games with North Melbourne and Carlton, spent three years working alongside Walsh as an assistant coach at the Eagles before returning to Victoria and joining St Kilda in 2014.

The 2004 Blues best and fairest winner has also coached in his own right, having started his coaching career as a development coach/player with Carlton’s VFL affiliate in 2008.

Teague, who will oversee Adelaide’s forward line in Season 2015, talks to afc.com.au about his new role …

How have you found your first few months at the Club?
“Really exciting. As a player, changing clubs was always a bit nerve-racking and it’s very similar as a coach, with the first day at school mentality. I’ve loved it. The players have really embraced what the coach has wanted and it’s a great environment to work in.”

What’s it been like working with Phil Walsh again?
“It’s been really good. Probably, the reason I came to the Club was to work with Phil again. I worked with him for three years at West Coast and learned a lot from him. I was impressed with him and always used to ask why he wouldn’t go for senior jobs because I thought he’d make a great senior coach. I didn’t think myself or anyone else could convince him. He seemed pretty strong in his opinion and used to say he was going to be a ‘career assistant’, but it’s great he’s put his hand up and, from what I’ve seen so far, he’s doing a great job.”

What was it about Phil Walsh that made you want to work with him again?
“His ability to communicate with the players. He’s outstanding tactically as everyone knows, but he created good relationships with players. He can have a bit of fun, but also get his message across. His clarity is always really strong. I love the fact that his message is simple. Everyone knows what he wants and I think that’s a good environment to work in.”

You’ve played and worked under some successful senior coaches. What have you learned?
“Every coach brings something different. Denis Pagan kept things extremely simple. It was about doing the basics really well and I think that’s held strong for a long time, being able to do the fundamentals over and over under pressure. The way he got the North Melbourne team to play together was pretty impressive. John Worsfold was outstanding when it came to his management and setting up systems and structures. The Club just ran so smoothly. Dean Laidley and Brett Ratten were both outstanding football brains. To learn some tactical things from those guys over time has really helped me develop as a young coach.”

You’ve coached in your own right in the VFL and been in charge of the defenders at West Coast, but this is your first time as a forward line coach. How have found the transition?
“It’s been good. Obviously, for the last four years I’ve been trying to stop the forwards! I know what I’ve been trying to teach defenders to do, so I’ve got an insight into what the forwards are going to come up against. I’ve watched a lot of defenders. Hopefully, one of the things I’ll be able to help with is looking at how forwards have beaten certain defenders in the past and also how defenders have been able to play well against certain forwards.

“In saying that, it’s a whole-game approach. We’ve got team offence and team defence and we’ve got to make sure our forwards are playing their role in the team game plan. I’ve really enjoyed the challenge so far. The group has been enthusiastic and willing to learn.”

You’ve inherited a high-scoring forward line, which was ranked third for points for last season. What’s been your main focus over the pre-season?
“We’d love to keep that scoring power, but team defence is a major focus for us. The forwards are often the first line of that team defence. We’ve spent a lot of time on that. It may reduce our scoring a bit, it may not. Our aim will be to lock the ball in our forward half and create a scoring opportunity.

“We’re working on being able to play as one team. Each individual has a certain responsibility in that. At the moment, it’s about learning a new style of defence and also offence because both have probably changed slightly. Having said that, we don’t want to tinker too much with the offence because the boys are naturally quite offensive. If we can be third in points for again this year and improve our defence, we’ll be in a good position to play finals.”

The Club recruited a few young forwards in the drafts. How are they tracking?
“Our younger guys have really just started to hit the training track in full the past month or so. Mitch McGovern is a little bit older and has played some WAFL football. Probably physically, he’s still adapting to getting consistent sessions under his belt. I think we’ll be patient with him. He has a good football brain, but his last few years of footy have been a bit injury interrupted. We want to get his body right, so that he’ll hopefully be on our list for a long time. Harry Dear had a shoulder reconstruction last year, so he’s only recently come into full training as well. Keenan Ramsey has been out on the track the most and showed some really good signs. He moves quite well, kicks the ball well and is a good mark. The other new forward is Anthony Wilson. He’s played SANFL football, but his body is quite immature, so he needs to spend some time getting his body right to play AFL.”

Taylor Walker will captain the Club from the forward line. Will the captaincy affect his role on-field?
“I don’t think so. ‘Tex’ has been outstanding with his leadership especially out on the training track. His instructional voice in terms of helping teammates with where to run and what to do is one of the reasons he’s a great leader. I think that comes naturally to him in a game, so I don’t think he’ll have to change too much at all.”

You played with Eddie Betts at Carlton. How has it been being reunited with Eddie?
“Eddie has been great. It’s nice knowing that I don’t have to try and stop him this year! He gave a few boys on my team a touch-up when we played against him, so it’s nice to have him on our side again.

“He’s changed a lot. The day he first rolled in at Carlton, he was a podgy little kid with a lot to learn about life let alone football. Now, I look at him and he’s a mature man. He’s grown so much. He’s obviously learned really good training behaviours over time. Not only is he outstanding in looking after himself, but he really helps the young players and in particular the young Indigenous players. He’s a real mentor for them, which I think is something he enjoys doing.”

Has Phil Walsh decided on how the forward line structure will look this season?
“We haven’t gone through the specifics too much. We know we want to have three marking targets in the front half, but whether that’s two talls and a Tom Lynch-type or three talls and a Lynch, is still up for debate. We have a few options there.

“We also need the speed and pressure in the forward line. As I mentioned, team defence starts as soon as the ball is turned over. I need Eddie Betts and Charlie Cameron, and guys like Riley Knight and Anthony Wilson when they’re fit and firing, to get to the opposition and put pressure on quickly to allow our defence to set up behind the ball.”

What will the Club be looking for in the NAB Challenge games?
“The first game is about getting out there and working on the things we’ve been training hard for so long. It’s our first real test. Right now, every team is undefeated and thinks they’re going well. It’ll be an opportunity to see how we stack up against real opposition. At training, as much as you try and work on offence the defence always know what you’re trying to do. In a game, you don’t always know. It’ll be good to see how well our boys have learned what we’re trying to implement and whether they can execute under pressure.”

What’s been your early impression of the playing group?
“The thing I’ve really enjoyed is their work rate and attitude. They’re very diligent at doing what you ask and they do it without complaining. Talking to the players, the pre-season seems to be a bit tougher this year but I wouldn’t have known that if I didn’t ask because they don’t complain. Whether it’s footy training or running, they just rock up and have a crack. I’ve really liked that aspect.

“I’m really looking forward to when they get the confidence in the new style and game plan and start taking control of that themselves. It will be really exciting when they feel comfortable out on the field to make calls and the right decisions. As coaches, that’s when we’ll feel like we’re all on the same page.”