New assistant coach David Teague says the opportunity to work with Phil Walsh again was behind his decision to join the Crows.

Teague, 33, will assume the role as forward line coach in Walsh’s new-look coaching team.

The former North Melbourne and Carlton defender started his coaching career in charge of the VFL’s Northern Bullants, combined with a full-time development role at the Blues. In 2011, he joined West Coast where he worked alongside Walsh for three years before joining St Kilda as an assistant coach ahead of the 2014 season.

Teague said the opporutnity to reunite with Walsh was too good to refuse.

“It’s a simple one. It was Phil Walsh,” Teague said when asked why he'd joined the Crows.

“I worked with Phil for three years at West Coast and learned a lot from him. Phil’s been the best I’ve been involved with in terms of football strategy and nous.

 “I felt he made me a better coach … so when he offered me the opportunity to come and work with him, I didn’t take a lot of convincing.

“The biggest thing for me was the move with a young family, but I'm very lucky to have a supportive wife and once I ticked that off I was over here pretty quick.”

Teague said he was looking forward to working with Adelaide’s exciting attack, which includes former Carlton teammate Eddie Betts.

“It’s a massive opportunity for me. I coached my own team (Northern Bullants) for three years, so you work in all areas there. But the opportunity to work with the forwards here, when Phil mentioned it I was very pumped. I’ve forever been trying to stop the forwards. Now it’s my job to try to help them create and be potent,” he said.

“I think the Crows have a good mix. They’ve got some tall forwards who can mark the ball (and some smalls). I’ve worked with Eddie Betts before and I have a good relationship with him from when I was at Carlton."

Teague will also play a role in helping to implement Walsh’s non-negotiable team defence.

“Obviously, good forwards hit the scoreboard but the way the game is going now they need to put (defensive) pressure on too,” Teague said.

“The forward line’s job is to play their role in the team game plan. As a coaching group, we’ll sit down with Phil and work out what our offensive and defensive strategies look like.

“It’ll be my job to make sure the forward line are playing their role in both offence and defence.”

Walsh has placed a strong emphasis on ‘team-first’ football since being appointed coach in early October. Teague was confident that attitude combined with Walsh’s brilliant strategic mind could help the Club succeed.

“Phil will definitely be strong and clear. I’ve got no doubt the players will know what we’re doing and when we need to do it,” Teague said.

“There’s a lot of talent here. Their (Adelaide's) good football was really good. The challenge for us, as a coaching group, is going to be getting the team to play good football consistently because that’s what good teams do.

“Phil is massive on being a team-first club … hard working and that sits well with me. I look forward to working in that environment. Phil is outstanding in that area. 

"If he can get all the players doing that they’ll be very consistent in their performances.”