It has been less than three months since Jared Rivers last took the football field.

After 13 years and 194 games in the AFL system, Rivers hung up the boots for the final time after Geelong’s 36-point loss to Hawthorn in round 20 this year.

Just 88 days later, he is already back on the field for another pre-season. However this time around, it will take a vastly different feel.

“You have a tough time retiring but you’ve got to start to think about the next journey,” Rivers told Collingwood Media on the decision to accept a development coaching role at the club.

“I’m really happy with the decision and coming to such a big club like Collingwood… it makes the transition a lot easier.

The transition from playing to coaching was one that started almost immediately after Rivers called curtains on his playing career.

The former defender received a call from a man he worked alongside during his time at Geelong, Collingwood Director of Football Neil Balme.

The phone call started what continued to be a daunting process.

“Balmy gave me a call in the off-season and asked me what I’m up to and if I’d be interested in some type of role,” Rivers said.

“I sat down with him and Bucks (coach Nathan Buckley) at the start and had a bit of a meeting for about 45 minutes.

“Then I had to present with Harvs (Robert Harvey) and Bucks and Balmy as well a few weeks later.

“It was pretty scary talking to those guys about my philosophies on footy.”

The preliminary discussions turned into a formal offer for Rivers to become a development coach, with a focus on nurturing Collingwood’s young defenders.

He will work closely with backline coach Ben Hart, as well as Dale Tapping, Anthony Rocca and Tarkyn Lockyer on VFL match days.

However it will be relationships with the Magpies emerging defenders which will define Rivers’ success at the club.

He has already addressed leadership as an area of the club which can be improved.

“It’s a really exciting group,” Rivers said.

“I’ve seen a little bit of vision over the last few weeks of Tommy Langdon and Frosty (Jack Frost) and the young boys in that group.”

“I’ve had a few meetings with them so far and am feeling really positive with the actual group itself and those young boys.

“Hopefully they can take the next step over the next few years in their leadership capacities as well. I think we need to improve in that area.”

When it comes to particular coaching philosophies, Rivers is focussed on improving the Magpies’ ability to defend as a team.

“Having played at Geelong and Melbourne, I think that I’ve developed a few different way to try and help the boys with that.

“It’s going to be challenging but I think we’ve got the right group for it.”