The Hampden 2016 leading goalkicker, who returned this year from a knee reconstruction after missing the entire 2015 season, will lead the Tigers as they strive to make a return to the top of the Warrnambool and District ladder.

“The last three or four years I’ve wanted to go down that coaching path and obviously Karl Dwyer has stepped down and an opportunity arose,” Rowan said.

The 30-year-old said his captaincy at the Blues in recent years was a good stepping stone into the coaching caper.

He has enlisted the help of Matthew Brown as an assistant to shoulder the bulk of bench duties on game day and ease the burden on playing-coach Rowan.

Dwyer stepped down as coach after the Tigers were bundled out of finals in the first week by eventual premier Nirranda, but indicated he was keen to play on at the club.