Rowe said the move back to the Wimmera league club was something he was looking forward to.

“It will be great to work with some old mates and the new guys,” he said. “Hopefully we can put together a successful season.”

Rowe played in three grand finals with the Saints in his initial four-year stay at the club, which started in 2012. After finally claiming a senior Wimmera league premiership in 2015, he made the decision to embrace the challenge of coaching at Edenhope-Apsley.

He said there was always a good chance he would return to play for the Horsham Saints at some point.

“I wanted to try my hand at coaching and helping out Edenhope-Apsley for a couple of years was great,” he said. “I really feel like the Horsham Saints is my home club in a way so there was always a plan to come back.”

After two seasons at the helm of his own side Rowe said he thought his leadership had significantly developed.

“When you coach you see the game a little bit differently because you look at it through a different lens,” he said.

“Hopefully I can give some different feedback to the coaching group as well.”

Horsham Saints football director Roger Sordello confirmed the signing had been finalised prior to Christmas.

He said the club had been in talks with Rowe during the off-season.

“When he initially left he said he would still call the Horsham Saints home,” he said. “Once he finished his coaching stint at Edenhope-Apsley I made sure I spoke to him fairly quickly.

“He took a bit of time to make up his mind in regards to football in general but I think in the end it was a no-brainer. He’s a quality ruckman and I think he plays his best football in the Wimmera league.”

Rowe said he looked forward to working with a strong midfield group.

“It can definitely be seen as the strength of the side,” he said.

“If I can give them first use of the ball we can be very dangerous side.”