NEW Melbourne midfield coach Mark Williams says he hopes to build on the relationships he has developed with the Demons' young players over the past three years.

Williams was development coach at Melbourne last year, after four years in charge of its aligned VFL team Sandringham.

He took the Zebras to three successive flags (2004-06) and guided plenty of young Demons into senior football.

Williams says he has had no troubles adjusting to his new job, with so many familiar faces to work with.

"A lot of the young players have come through the Sandringham connection. I've got a good relationship with a lot of the players and I'm looking to establish good relationships with the more senior players. That's what I'll be focusing on for the pre-season," Williams said.

"It's really rewarding to see when you've coached young players to see them get games, establish themselves and play good senior footy. I've been rewarded over and over again by seeing blokes I've coached come through and play good senior footy. It's a great part of the job."

Williams was the VFL's most successful coach during his time with the Zebras and says AFL recruiters are only now starting to realise what a fertile recruiting ground the competition can be.

"There's a lot more scrutiny on the VFL now. Most recruiting departments are right across the VFL. I wouldn't say it's ignored, there is very good knowledge about it now and a lot of the guys who play in the VFL have had opportunities prior to being in the VFL," he said.

Williams takes over as midfield coach from Paul Williams, who is joining the Western Bulldogs.

He acknowledges Melbourne's midfield has a way to go to match the likes of Hawthorn and Geelong.

"We've got an emerging group who are learning and gathering the experience as they go. My job is to help them emerge as quickly as they can," he said.

"Having a year with Paul, helping him and seeing how he presented and what he was trying to achieve will hold me in good stead," he said.