The new Kolora-Noorat's leader says he'll build on outgoing mentor Ben Walsh's legacy in his first season at the helm of the Warrnambool and District league powerhouse.

The 26-year-old's career has no shortage of highlights. He spent a season on Geelong's rookie list as a teenager, a long stint at Geelong Football League outfit Leopold and is as well-credentialed as a player can be.

It made sense that Bourke, a utility capable of playing across half-back and through midfield, would next test his coaching nous. He'll lead the club in 2022 alongside assistants Sam Moloney and Joel Moloney.

"I've always had an interest in (coaching), more so probably when I came back to the Power helping with our kids," he told The Standard.

"We had a really good group of kids there when I first came back and that really sparked an interest from there.

"Having 'Walshy' the last couple of years and seeing the work he put in, once it came to me I thought 'it'll be a privilege to take on from him' obviously I've learned a lot from him.

"A couple of years ago I'd have probably said no, but I've done a bit of maturing and learned a lot from Walshy and a lot of other people in that time think I'd be silly to at least not give it a crack."

Bourke paid homage to Walsh's ability to cultivate relationships with players and said communication skills were a key trait of the modern coach.

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"He's been incredible and I think the club was very, very lucky to have him. Not only for the premiership in 2019, but through the past two years. It would've been the toughest two years for a coach," Bourke said.

"Just the way he adapted and found a connection with the players... New players coming in, old players and people within the community as well.

"That was something that really stood out to me. He genuinely cared about the players and the people in the community. As a home-grown player, that stood out to me and that's something I'll be taking on.

"You want to make sure the playing group know about the work that goes on behind the scenes and how lucky we are to wear the jumper.

"Just his people skills and how he found ways to connect with different types of people, that's something I really appreciated personally and something I'll look to take on myself."

Bourke said he hoped to retain the vast majority of the Power's list and said the additions of key forward Lucas Boyd and the full-back in the Geelong Football League's team of the decade, Jeremy Larcombe, would provide a major boost.

Boyd, who is originally from Warrnambool, most recently played Hampden league footy in 2010.

Bourke said he'd be a point of reference for the club's young forwards while Larcombe would return to the field after a couple of years away from footy.

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"He's had a couple of years away with work and family commitments," Bourke said of Larcombe.

"It's similar to (Boyd) in that he sort of went straight from the GFL and that was it. He probably felt like he had a little bit left in the tank.

"He's going to give it a crack and they're both going to be super for us. Both are key position players and we're excited to have them on board."

Bourke said the club's existing players had responded well early on but he was mindful of giving them space on the back of a mentally draining season.

He said he'd meet with his assistants to iron pre-season plans in coming weeks, pending COVID-19 restrictions.

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