Pilcher, 28, joins the Bombers as an assistant coach on the back of the club having lost the past two grand finals to North Bendigo.

Pilcher had also endured the bitter taste of grand final defeat with Strathfieldsaye in 2013, before the Storm bounced back to win back-to-back Bendigo league flags in 2014 and 2015.

“I probably sympathise with Leitchy given they’ve lost the past two grand finals,” Pilcher said on Wednsday.

“I know what that feels like given we lost to Golden Square in 2013, so I’m looking forward to helping them try to accomplish something they haven’t been able to do for a long time.

“They’re obviously very keen to get over that final hurdle.”

Leitchville-Gunbower hasn’t won a premiership since 1995 in the Northern Echuca Football League when Travis Hore kicked a goal on the siren to beat Moama by three points.

Pilcher leaves Strathfieldsaye after initially joining the club as one of its foundation players in 2009.

The athletic ruckman played his 100th match for the Storm in the 2014 grand final win over Sandhurst and is the club’s games record-holder.

Pilcher also played in Strathfieldsaye’s 2015 grand final win over the Dragons, and earlier this year was part of Bendigo’s inter-league win over Gippsland. He also played inter-league in 2013.

“I’ve loved my time at Strathfieldsaye and I’ll always be part of that club in some shape or form, but getting a bit older you want to try something new and branch out a bit more,” Pilcher said.

“I’m looking forward to a new challenge and trying to help Leitchy reach their goal.”

Leitchville-Gunbower coach Matt Hawken said it was exciting for the club to bring in a player with the experience of Pilcher, who was previously on the Bendigo Bombers’ VFL list for two years before he signed with the Storm as one of their inaugural recruits.

“We see Michael as being a really important player for us,” Hawken said.

“He has been a part of Strath Storm since its inception and he was keen to start to get into coaching. We had an opportunity for him as an assistant, so we see it as a win-win for both.

“He’s very driven by success and with us having been close over the past three years with a preliminary final and a couple of grand finals, he’ll add to us with some leadership and experience from being part of success in the Bendigo league.”

As well as Pilcher, the Bombers have also added on-baller Matt Pollock

Pollock captained Echuca this year and has spent the past eight seasons with the Murray Bombers, but Leitchville-Gunbower is his original club.

“Matt is a really strong-bodied midfielder who has played more than 150 games with Echuca, so it’s great to have him back,” Hawken said.

Joel Donehue is also returning to the Bombers from Echuca, while the club will have 11 players moving up from this year’s under-17 premiership team.

“Joel is a hard-bodied midfielder and still only young with his best footy ahead of him,” Hawken said.

Confirmed departures from this year’s grand final team that lost to North Bendigo by 20 points are Bart Walsh, Brendon Meroli, Drew Bartram and Kieran Treacy.

Meanwhile, Bryce Curnow has confirmed he will be continuing his football career with Calivil United in the Loddon Valley league next year.

Curnow was a co-coach of Strathfieldsaye this year.