Rosa returns to the team he spent 10 years with as a player, playing 168 games for the Eagles before moving to the Gold Coast Suns in 2016.

“I’ve sort of known for the last five or six years, when you start thinking about life after footy – I always knew I wanted to stay in football, but it was just sort of what path I wanted to pursue,” he said.

Rosa retired in August after a series of injuries limited him to just five games in 2018. 

His time as one of the few experienced players at the Suns solidified Rosa’s desire to be a coach.

“Having experience at Gold Coast with a young group, and spending a bit of time over the last couple of years working with the first to third year players, I really enjoyed that,” he said. 

"So in the last couple of years I sort of really knew that that was the path I wanted to pursue.” 

Moving back to a familiar area is an added bonus. Rosa’s partner is from Perth, and the two are expecting their second child by November. 

“It’s certainly great to reconnect with the area,” Rosa said.

“To reconnect with friends and family over here obviously helps, and it’s a great family club West Coast so it’s a really good environment for me and my family.”

Joining the reigning premiers presents a unique challenge for Rosa, but he understands the dangers of a premiership hangover more than most.

He was on the Eagles’ list when they won the premiership in 2006, before getting knocked out in the second round of finals the following year, despite being one of the premiership favourites.

Rosa however dismissed any notion of a similar drop-off for this years Eagles. 

"They’re obviously a really motivated group and a really united group. I think we’ve seen over the past few years they’re a team with guys who are just willing to play a role and play for each other,” Rosa said.

“They’ve obviously had success, so that will be one of the main things again, enjoying each others company, working hard for each other and staying united.” 

Rosa joins fellow Wimmera export Adrian Hickmott on West Coast’s coaching panel. 

Hickmott is a senior assistant at the Eagles, and Rosa says his guidance will help the transition into coaching. 

“I worked with Hicks when I was playing over here, so I’ve had a fair bit to do with Hicks [Hickmott] and he’s another guy that will be great to learn off,” Rosa said. 

“He’s had a lot of experience with coaching and I’m looking forward to working with him and the other boys.”

After a long off-season, Rosa is ready to get stuck into another pre-season, this time in a different role. 

“I’ve had a fair bit of time since I retired, with West Coast going so deep into the finals it means the boys start a bit later than other teams,” Rosa said. 

“It’s been a good break, but I’m just looking forward to getting stuck into it now.”