MELBOURNE coach Simon Goodwin is set to hand over the reins to Craig Jennings for its AFLX assault.

AFL.com.au understands Jennings, the Demons' strategy and education coordinator, will oversee the club's AFLX preparations and be in charge on game day.

Jennings is a veteran in the AFL industry, having worked as an opposition analyst at Essendon for a decade and another year at the Bulldogs.

Senior coaches often entrust their leading assistants with more responsibility in the pre-season, so this is an extension of that approach. 

The 43-year-old joined Melbourne at the end of the 2015 season and has established a strong reputation as a game-plan expert and communicator. 

Jennings spent nine years at Swinburne University, has presented internationally on education and learning, and analysed leading soccer teams in the Middle East as part of his coaching development. 

He worked alongside Goodwin and another Demons assistant, Brendan McCartney, while he was at the Bombers and Western Bulldogs, respectively. 

The new, fast-paced AFLX format will be played across three consecutive nights in separate states in February, with the Demons scheduled for Etihad Stadium on the 16th. 

Carlton, Hawthorn, Essendon, North Melbourne and St Kilda are competing on the same night as Melbourne.