The Tigers had sounded Stroobants out about their vacant coaching role, but he is joining the club just as a player.

"We're very excited to have Steven come on board," Rochester recruiting committee member David Hodgens said on Friday.

"We approached him at the end of the Bendigo Gold's season, initially with the view that we were looking for a new coach and he might have been interested in going down that path.

"He considered it, but came back to us and said he wasn't ready yet to take on a senior coaching role, but he wanted to have a crack at the GVFL.

"Leadership in players is a big thing we're chasing this year and he certainly ticks all the boxes.

"He's a fantastic guy, well credentialed and at that age of 25 where our younger players will really get a lift out of playing with him, so he's a big get for us."

Stroobants spent seven years in the VFL with the Bendigo Bombers and Bendigo Gold, skippering the Gold during their two stand-alone seasons and was this year awarded life membership of the club.

Forward Stroobants' arrival at Rochester is extra timely given the Tigers have just lost century full-forward Grant Weeks back to his home club Colbinabbin.

"We didn't want to lose Weeksy, obviously, but we understand his reasons for wanting to go back to Colbinabbin for its centenary season next year," Hodgens said.

"We wish Weeksy all the best, but getting Stroobants in certainly helps us going into next year."