Now coaching the Bombers' defensive unit, van Buuren, who turns 26 this month, jumped at the opportunity when asked.

"Along with the players that left last year, there were a few assistant coaches that had been around for a while that stepped away as well so that opened up a few spots," he said.

"One of those was the backline coach and obviously I played backline the first couple of years I'd been here so he asked if I wanted to take it and it was a no-brainer.

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"Obviously with a young group, I thought it would be a good opportunity to develop myself as a footballer.

"I've got a teaching background so it's something that I enjoy doing, working with young people, so it's definitely something I want to keep developing as I go along."

While he evolves as a leader under the guidance of Brad Cox-Goodyer and company, van Buuren has had the privilege of playing with plenty of new faces this season.

"It's been very exciting to watch them develop with obviously 19 debutants this year but you wouldn't know some of them debuted this year with the way they are going about it."

Coming to the Bombers after previously playing with Devonport in the TSL and Latrobe in the NWFL, van Buuren played in his first senior grand final in last year's defeat to the Blues.

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Missing 2019's premiership success due to an elbow injury, he said a win on Sunday would "mean the world" as his side attempt to win back the cup.

"Obviously the first two years, I've been very unlucky, particularly the first year with an injury in the qualifying final," he said.

"It's what you play for, to win a premiership, and it's been three years in the making [for me] so it would mean absolutely everything to get over the line this Sunday."