Four months ago, Ben McGlynn wandered off the MCG for the final time, having just lost his second Grand Final with Sydney. Now, he is part of the football department at St Kilda after taking a development coaching role at the start of the pre-season. Things move quickly in football.

Having endured an injury-interrupted year in 2015, McGlynn accelerated his preparation for life after his playing career. He spent time working with the Swans Academy and with the NEAFL team across the last two seasons, preparing for when he reached the end.

And after squeezing every last drop out of a career that started on the rookie list in 2006 and lasted 171 games and 11 seasons, firstly at Hawthorn and then at Sydney, McGlynn begins the next chapter at a third AFL club, albeit in a different capacity.

“When I got into my 30’s and in my last few years, I was obviously thinking about life after footy and I put a few things in place while I was up in Sydney,” McGlynn told saints.com.au in his first interview at St Kilda.

“I worked with the Swans academy in the under-16’s and helped coach there. And once footy finished and I decided not to play on and retire it came around pretty quickly, but I’m happy to move onto the next stage of my life.”

Having spent a significant portion of his life inside two of the most successful clubs of the modern era, McGlynn brings a wealth of experience to Linen House Centre, not only in terms of playing styles, but also an insight into how premiership cultures are built.

“Hopefully (I can bring) a bit of experience in terms of the culture at Hawthorn and Sydney, but I’ll probably bring more of the defensive side from the Swans and what they have up there,” McGlynn said.

“I’m hoping to learn as much as I can from the coaches around me; I’m still developing as a coach, it’s a little bit different sitting on the sidelines than actually playing but hopefully I can bring an insight of the modern game.”

After learning from some of the best coaches in the game, none bigger than Hawthorn icon Alastair Clarkson and then Swans premiership coach John Longmire and coach-in-waiting, Stuart Dew, the 31-year-old is well equipped for the change of scenery.

“I was very fortunate to be under ‘Clarko’ early days, but then John Longmire was probably my biggest influence in terms of giving me the opportunity to play and I developed into a defensive forward and he was a big driver of that to give me the opportunity,” McGlynn said.

“And then Stuey Dew over the last couple of years has really developed as an assistant coach and a good mate of mine so he was good to learn from and lean on.”