St Kilda midfield coach Simon McPhee has sat in many different seats inside Linen House Centre during his first six years at the club.

He was brought across from Western Australia at the end of 2011 to coach Sandringham and work in development at the Saints, before managing St Kilda's development program for a couple of years.

Two years ago, he transitioned out of development to assist Adam Kingsley with the midfield group, before being promoted to run the engine room this season, in one of a few changes to St Kilda’s coaching structure ahead of the 2018 season.

“My role focuses on the midfield and involves coming up with our stoppage structure, setups and roles. Adam Kingsley has laid a really good foundation there, so we haven’t changed too much, we’ve tinkered with a few things,” McPhee told saints.com.au.

“Then it’s coaching the fundamentals of the stoppages, which are the most important. Structures are good, but it’s the work that needs to be done to execute.

“We’re setting up our structures, educating and then training them and the fundamentals around that. Within that, I’ve got players that I need to look after.

“Adam Skrobalak, Aaron Hamill and myself share the load and it’s our responsibility to help each player develop.”

With highly-regarded assistant coach and strategic mind Kingsley taking up a new role as St Kilda’s transition coach, McPhee has grasped the baton from someone who has had a profound influence on him as a coach.

“‘Turtle’ [Kingsley] and I have worked closely together for the last few years and the main influence he has had on me is preparation and being organised,” McPhee said.

“We are two very different people. He is very methodical and his approach to professionalism is second to none, so I’ve taken a fair bit from him and tried to improve myself in that area.

“I’m probably naturally more of a people’s person than him, so that side of things comes a bit easier to me. Whereas the stuff that he is elite at, I’ve had to work on.”