Carlton interim coach David Teague built up his experience as a player-coach for the Northern Bullants

He’s the new coach on the block. But it wasn’t long ago David Teague channelled his inner Alex Jesaulenko as a player-coach for the Northern Bullants in the VFL.

David Teague during his playing days at Carlton.

Few Carlton figures have ever compared David Teague to high-flying Blues legend Alex Jesaulenko.

But 30 years after “Jezza” led Carlton to the famous 1979 premiership as a player-coach, Teague can claim to be one of footy’s great throwbacks.

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In 2008 Teague started his coaching career with the Northern Bullants while also a player in that side at the tender age of 27.

He didn’t win a premiership like Jesaulenko, but took the dual responsibilities in his stride.

Jezaulenko would go on to be a player-coach for a handful of games at St Kilda in 1981, the same year Malcolm Blight lasted six games as player-coach with North Melbourne.

The week after Blight dropped the coaching mantle he kicked 11 goals for North as a player.

Those who witnessed Teague in that year as player-coach remember someone who fulfilled the dual roles with the same class he has spent his time as a Blues assistant.

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When he finally retired as a VFL player, he took the Northern Blues to losing Grand Finals using all the qualities the Blues witnessed in choosing him to replace Brendon Bolton.

“He was so young but the thing that stood out to me about him was he had really strong character and he was big on his values,” says 251-gamer Matthew Lappin, who spent that year as a Carlton assistant who also played with the Bullants.

David Teague will lead the Blues for the rest of the season. Picture: Getty Images

“He was big on those values and lives his life according to them and coached that way from the start. The players loved playing for him and he had a lot of success without the ultimate success.”

Lappin can’t remember any issues with Teague having so much on his plate at only 27 years of age.

“He was fresh out of the AFL so that fitness carried over. He wasn’t getting out of the huddles gassed and not being able to speak, he relied heavily on people off the field who helped him in the box and it just seemed normal that he was (doing both).

“When you look back on it, it’s not something that seemed really different so that says to me he did a good job of both.”

The club’s footy boss Garry O’Sullivan says it was a natural fit for Teague to play on after his Carlton career while also taking over the proud VFL club.

“He handled it really well. Doing both didn’t seem to be any issue with him at all. He was such a popular guys and he had a really terrific regard for Preston’s culture.

David Teague in action for the Northern Bullants.

“He drove that, he was terrific socially. He would encourage the Carlton boys and he would be at functions, he was like a good old-fashioned player coach and it was a really good transition for him. Even when he did ease off the playing in his second year he played a bit up in the country when it suited him and then he made a seamless transition into full-time coaching.”