Stephenson, a premiership winner with Coolamon in 2013 and a former club best and fairest, has agreed too terms on a two year deal with an option for a third after spending seven years with Central Districts.

It's a bold move by the club after they opted to part ways with Troy Maiden, who took the Tigers to the 2018 Riverina League flag, and this year's AFL Riverina Championship.

Tigers president Anthony Lyons told The Daily Advertiser on Thursday it was a "difficult decision", but their preference has always been to appoint a player-coach, and Stephenson would be rated one of the best key position players in the league.

He bowed out at Central Districts with a win over top side Woodville-West Torrens thanks to a goal after the siren.

"The biggest thing I learned was work ethic. Centrals is quite a workmanlike club, the training is quite intense but it's rewarding," he said.

"It brings a lot of confidence out of you when you play. The big one was training habits and preparing for games."

Stephenson said COVID was the main factor behind their decision to return to the Riverina.

The 28-year-old and wife Jess have a ten-month-old daughter, Mia, and their Coolamon-based parents only got the chance to visit them last week when South Australia opened its borders just before his SANFL farewell.

"It's pretty hard to leave, but I'm excited for the opportunity that's presented itself at the Tigers," he said.

"It's probably the right time for me and my family to be a bit closer to family. It wasn't purely a football decision, there was a few things that lined up with it.

"The main dagger was COVID, we've been here all year and didn't see our families until the weekend just gone. I played my last game of SANFL last weekend, they were lucky enough to get over and watch that, which was pretty special."

The severing of ties with Maiden took many by surprise given their success during his two-year tenure, but Stephenson insists he doesn't feel any pressure as a result.

"Obviously you want to stay successful, that's always the goal in footy, but I don't find it to be too much presure to be honest," he said.

"I'm confident in the group there and what I can bring to the table in a playing capacity, and a couple of things in terms of teaching the guys in how to prepare," he said.

Stephenson established himself as a star defender with Coolamon, but has spent recent seasons up forward.

"If it's best for me to play down back I'm happy to do that, same as if it's up forward," he said.

"I'd be leaning more toward going forward, that's where I've played my best footy in the SANFL the last three years."

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