MATTHEW Nicks may lay claim to the best job in football.

Charged with Greater Western Sydney's ball movement, the new senior assistant coach has already put kicking weapons Josh Kelly and Lachie Whitfield to work this summer.

In a major coup, the Giants set out to add senior experience around Leon Cameron and landed their man in Nicks, after eight years at Port Adelaide.

Regarded as an AFL coach in waiting, Nicks has already made an immediate impression with his leadership and understanding of game analytics.

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And while he'll work in tandem with all assistants on avenues to goals, it's his relationship with Cameron that the Giants' hierarchy hopes to have a profound impact in 2019.

As director of coaching Alan McConnell spends much of the summer coaching the women's program, Nicks' appointment has already allowed Cameron to become less hands-on.

Just like Nathan Buckley last year and Damien Hardwick before him, Cameron has been gradually releasing the reins in recent years, something he has been able to focus on more this summer.

And like the effect that Blake Caracella and Justin Leppitsch at Richmond, and Justin Longmuir and Garry Hocking at Collingwood, had in driving their new clubs up the ladder in their first seasons, Nicks and a number of new assistants will be hoping for the same in 2019. 

Matthew Nicks joined the Giants after eight seasons at Port Adelaide. Picture: AFL Photos

At Port Adelaide, Michael Voss has moved into Nicks' vacated senior assistant post as 2004 premiership players Jarrad Schofield (midfield) and Brett Montgomery (defence) return. 

Schofield's first port of call has been to form strong relationships with a midfield group that has been reinvigorated with a fresh voice under the Subiaco triple-premiership boss.

Criticised for a lack of pace at times in 2018, the Power's onball brigade has had the slate wiped clean under Schofield with increased competition for spots noticeable already internally.

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Montgomery, who had two years out of the AFL system after a relationship breakdown with Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge, has stood out with his diligence and level of detail.

Dean Brogan, who joins Chad Cornes as a fourth member of the coaching staff from the club's maiden flag, is also back at Alberton in a part-time ruck role. 

Another Power premiership star, Adam Kingsley, has shifted from St Kilda to Richmond to run stoppages in a coaching panel shuffle.

Kingsley's level of professionalism has been praised among coaches and players at Punt Road this pre-season.

New Tigers assistant Adam Kingsley is highly rated by his peers. Picture: AFL Photos

He assumes the role from Andrew McQualter who will own the forward line, with Caracella maintaining the offensive movements as Leppitsch changes to the backline following the departure of Ben Rutten. 

Rutten's arrival at Essendon is said to have had All Australian defenders Michael Hurley and Cale Hooker licking their lips with increased structure the biggest difference ahead of 2019.

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A premiership assistant at Richmond in 2017, Rutten's role will focus largely on key position players at both ends of the ground.

However, with his defensive traits, it's his impact on Hurley and Hooker that will go a long way in the Bombers being harder to score against compared to their leaky ways of 2018.

Another defensive coach, Rhyce Shaw, has landed at North Melbourne, fresh off back-to-back AFLCA assistant coach of the year awards at Sydney.

Forming close relationships with his players at the Swans, Shaw has started to do the same at Arden Street with a belief that as much coaching can be done off the field as on it.

Now four years out of the game, Shaw still mixes it with players in training drills and has made a point of getting to know the entire football department in his first three months.

Rhyce Shaw was an invaluable right-hand man for John Longmire before crossing to the Roos. Picture: AFL Photos

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He replaces Josh Drummond who heads to the Gold Coast as defensive coach as one of five fresh faces among the coaching staff.

Drummond's game knowledge has been a key takeout from the club's football staff, while new head of development and midfield coach Josh Francou's teaching communication has impressed. 

Former Roo Andrew Swallow's tackling education has been assisted by his knowledge of the current game, while development coaches Tim Clarke and Tate Kaesler are building strong bonds with a bevy of new players.

At St Kilda, Alan Richardson has reunited with former Carlton coach Brett Ratten – the roles reversed from when Richardson spent time under Ratten at the Bues.

The Saints have made a point of sending Ratten into the forward group, the idea to have the club's most experienced assistant with the most inexperienced playing line.

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His combination with Brendon Lade, who joins from Port Adelaide, allowed Richardson to take a week off in pre-season and study at Columbia University in New York.

Lade assumes the midfield with his larger-than-life personality already putting smiles on faces at Moorabbin.

Sam Mitchell's tenure at Hawthorn is in full swing, fresh from a premiership with West Coast and having a big say in the rise of midfielders Jack Redden and Dom Sheed. 

A key area will be his work with inside midfielders Tom Mitchell, Jaeger O'Meara, Liam Shiels and James Worpel and looking to make amends for their lacklustre semi-final against Melbourne, beaten 36-28 in clearances.  

Brownlow medallist Sam Mitchell has wasted no time getting to work back at the Hawks. Picture: AFL Photos

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At Sydney, Tadhg Kennelly moves from development coach to look after the backline, his close dealings with youngsters Matthew Ling, Lewis Melican and Colin O'Riordan set to be invaluable to their next step in defence.

While Marty Mattner didn't want to give away too much in his first press conference at Adelaide in September, the dual premiership coach of Sturt steps up to look after the defence.

He returns to the AFL system after time previously at Sydney, while long-time SANFL coach Michael Godden makes the jump for the first time, in charge of the midfield.

Mattner's technical nous is a major attribute, while Godden's one-on-one contact with his players will hope to drive the Crows back to finals.

While Godden is in his second decade as a mentor, new West Coast stoppages and structure coach Matt Rosa has stepped off the field after three seasons at Gold Coast. 

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Returning to where he played 168 games, Rosa is understood to be asking plenty of questions in his early time at the club as he learns the hours required to cut it.

While the senior players were back for less than three weeks prior to Christmas, stoppages are set to be on the agenda when the Eagles resume this week.

Across the competition, other development coaches include Matthew Wright (Adelaide), Lloyd Peris (Sydney), Chance Bateman (West Coast), Brendan Whitecross (North Melbourne), Jake Batchelor (St Kilda) and Torin Baker (Hawthorn). 

Former Port Adelaide and Melbourne assistant Aaron Greaves heads up the development at North Melbourne, while former Roos and Geelong big man Hamish McIntosh will join the Blues in a part-time ruck role.