The 28-year-old midfielder will be playing coach and said he was excited about taking on the Northern Bombers’ senior position and working with their young talent.

“The exciting thing about the list and the club is the juniors and the kids that are coming up through – I really wanted to work with young players and you look at the age group of 19, 20 and 21 the core group there – I am really excited,” Couch said.

“I am really looking forward to getting to know the town and the state and a new league.”

He said strength and conditioning had been his focus coaching an under-18 side this season in Melbourne while playing VFL football with Richmond and serving as the club’s strength and conditioning coach.

“I love seeing the progression of the younger players coming through and the impact you can have on the kids and their footy.and the strength and conditioning side in the gym and see them unfold in front of you.

“As a player I’ve always noticed how a coach talks to his players and their game plan and thought about if I was coach what I would do.

“At Richmond Craig McRae is the best coach I’ve ever had and it’s been good talking to him this year about how we see the game and I was keen to get into the coaching side a bit more.”

Couch will be based in Launceston and will also take on the Simon Black Academy coaching role based at UTas Stadium.

“I’m also excited about the academy and that mentoring role – what I have been doing the last few months is very similar.

“Anything off the field that makes you better helps on the field and from personal experience when you are passionate about something footy seems to take care of itself so I am looking forward to combining the two.”

North Launceston president Thane Brady said the club’s committee of management had set out to recruit first and foremost a development coach and secondly a person who could lead on the field.

“The club received interest from highly-credentialed coaches,” Brady said.

“Setting aside all the statistics, Tom Couch the person has a genuine caring nature who not only has academic qualifications, he also enjoys inspiring young athletes to fully develop their talent.

“Tom leads by example. He’s a disciplined trainer, maintaining an elite level of fitness and continually displays it is possible to balance a dedication to sport and study.

“The club could not have found a person closer matching our selection criteria than Tom Couch.”