New Richmond development coach Andrew McQualter will continue his playing career, as a member of the Tigers’ standalone VFL team in 2014.

McQualter, who played in three Grand Finals during an 89-game stint at St Kilda, and 10 finals all-up, before spending a season with the Gold Coast Suns, is delighted to be pulling the boots on for Richmond at VFL level.

“It is exciting.  It was something that I was really keen to be able to keep doing,” McQualter told ‘Roar Vision’.

“I’m only 27, even thought I run like I’m 45 at times . . . So, I was keen to keep playing and Richmond have been able to accommodate me with that, so it’s great.”

McQualter has hit the ground running since his arrival at the Club.

“It’s been a pretty full-on first two weeks,” he said.

“The head was spinning a little bit in the first week, but I’m starting to settle into things now that the players have come back.

“It’s only the 1-4-year players at the moment, but I’m really enjoying it so far.”

The seeds for McQualter’s Tigerland odyssey were sown midway through this year.

“Tim Clarke (Richmond’s VFL coach) gave me a phone call about playing in the VFL side, and from there, I expressed my interest in a full-time role,” McQualter said.

“Then, it was back and forth for a few months, before Dan Richardson (the Tigers’ General Manager of Football), who I had a contact with, while he was at ESP, which was my management company, basically was able to put my name up a bit.

“I had an interview and, about three days later, I was offered the job.”

McQualter outlined his main areas of responsibility as a development coach at Richmond . . .

“My title is ‘midfield spread’, so I’ll be working under Mark ‘Wilbur’ Williams in that department, the midfield spread in the VFL side with Tim Clarke, and then the development side of things with ‘Choco’ (the other Mark Williams).”

Asked for his opinion of Choco, McQualter didn’t mince words . . .

“He’s mad – he’s literally a little bit mad, but I reckon he’s fantastic.

“I’ve really enjoyed working alongside him and seeing the way he goes about things.

“Just to see how much energy he’s still got is quite amazing.”

McQualter admitted to also being blown away by the new Richmond facilities at the ME Bank Centre.

“They’re fantastic facilities,” he said.

“It’s funny . . . I would have driven past here a million times over the last 10 years and I’d never been inside the facility.  So, I was really impressed when I came in for the first time a few weeks ago.

“They’ve done a great job here, and the ground’s in fantastic condition as well.”