If you are looking for Alan Richardson in Wangaratta or MacKay during St Kilda’s opening two NAB Challenge fixtures, don’t bother looking up at the coaches’ box. He won’t be sitting in there.

Cast your gaze to the boundary line, on the interchange bench and you will see him perched at ground level, getting an altered perspective on how the game unfolds.

With Coaching and Development Director Danny Sexton and Senior Assistant Coach Adam Kingsley taking charge of the first and second games of the NAB Challenge series, Richardson will remain out of the coaches’ box and away from influence, allowing the pair to develop without having someone peering over their shoulder.

And while Sexton and Kingsley receive their sole coaching opportunities against North Melbourne and Brisbane Lions, Richardson will also be a beneficiary of the decision by getting a better insight into how to provide players with feedback in the heat of battle.

The experienced football mentor doesn’t see a permanent move to the boundary line like in the world game happening any time soon, but is open to seeing if there can be positives from the move during particular circumstances – potentially even late in games.

“It gives me an opportunity to have a look from a different perspective – that is from ground level,” Richardson told saints.com.au on Tuesday afternoon.

“There is the potential to give immediate feedback to players and (determine) if there’s any value at looking at that as an option in-season at times. Not necessary all the time, but potentially from time to time, perhaps late in the game etc.

“It’s also good for me to be down there to see how everyone else operates and how they cope with the communication that comes down the line.

“Obviously that’s generally me upstairs, so that will be good to get the feeling from what it’s like down below and are we able to achieve real clarity from the coaches’ box to the ground level.

“I’ll try to steer clear from the main coaching message that comes down – mine will be much more personal with the players. My intent is to steer clear, I didn’t want to be in the box for that reason. I also wanted to let those guys run the show from up there."

Following last Friday’s intra-club clash at Trevor Barker Oval, St Kilda’s 2016 preparations will change gears this weekend with the Saints heading up to Wangaratta to face the Kangaroos in the opening weekend of the NAB Challenge series.