New Melbourne coach Steven King has sung the praises of Ryan Hoffman, the former NRL enforcer, who has joined the AFL club in a leadership role.

Hoffman, who also co-hosts Zero Tackle's The Boardroom NRL Podcast, is in with Demons at least one day per week as a leadership consultant, sharing his wealth of experience from 16 years in top-flight rugby league. That included 353 games in the competition, as well as six Australian Tests and 14 Origin appearances. for NSW.

Speaking on Thursday ahead of the Demons' Round 2 clash against the Dockers in Perth, King said Hoffman has made a significant impact in a short period.    

"We all admire the Storm for what they've done over a long period of time," King said.

"To have Hoff's influence on us as a group… and probably the way we've set up our leadership structure, it's a bit unique, but Hoff's a key driver of that."

Unlike many AFL clubs, Melbourne has resisted the temptation to go for a large leadership group. Max Gawn is skipper, with Jack Viney vice-captain. 

"I don't want to spend too much time hassling our leaders and our players, I think it comes really well from a place where Hoff's, even from a different code, he keeps them really accountable in his own unique way, and it's working really well," King added.

Speaking to Zero Hanger at the time of his appointment, Hoffman said he'd tailor a leadership program unique to the Demons, which would encompass some of what he learned at the Storm.

"It's not trying to pick up what the Melbourne Storm did, even though they've been successful for a long time, and dumping it on the Dees, and saying this is the best way to do it," Hoffman commented.

"It's trying to get the best out of them as leaders and also giving a different perspective and outside-the-box thinking in the approach, both on the field and off it."

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