The midfielder and Mark Carroll were initially co-coaches at Turvey Park this year, but opted not to participate due to coronavirus concerns.

Carroll has since joined the Hoppers as co-coach alongside Jake Barrett, and Sykes said his move made sense for a number of reasons.

"It's been a weird year and in some spots it's been tough. I just thought it's the best time to mix it up and do something different," he said.

"It was probably one of the toughest things I've done. You grow pretty fond of where you play your footy and it's definitely tough, but personally a different perspective was something I've needed after the year that's just gone.

"The year off wasn't such a bad thing. I've been playing footy non-stop since I was 16 and played a fair bit of cricket too.

"I know Coolamon's list pretty well, I grew up playing rep footy with a lot of those fellas.

"I know exactly how they play, most of them are my age and there's a family culture there. There was a lot of reasons to go there."

Sykes added stepping away from coaching after dipping his toe in the water in 2019 would help him observe and learn the craft before eventually picking up the clipboard again.

The Hoppers have locked up most of last year's minor premiership-winning squad. They have also added Temora forward Matt Harpley with a focus on adding players with big match experience after bowing out of the 2019 finals in straight sets.

"I want to step back and watch what goes on again, and really concentrate on playing for the next few years until I coach again," he said.

"I thought Coolamon gives me the perfect opportunity to do that. The relationship I have with 'Curl' (Carroll), everything just seemed right.

It's good to step back and take in everything from other people and other clubs, and when it's that time again you can put that into your coaching.

"There's 100 different things you have to be on top of as a coach to make sure your 22 blokes are on the same page.

"Not having to worry about the other blokes takes that bit of stress off, you and you can concentrate on your own game personally.

It's good to step back and take in everything from other people and other clubs, and when it's that time again you can put that into your coaching."

Sykes said it will feel strange to play the Bulldogs after playing all his junior football there, and the past four seasons after a stint with Lockhart.

"It would be very weird and something different. But on the field it's competitive, and once you get off you're mates and we'll have a beer afterwards," he said.

"The good thing is they (Coolamon) have retained their list from the 2019 campaign. They finished minor premiers, and they've picked up a few.

"It looks really good from an outside perspective at the moment. Seventy-five per cent of their players are around their mid twenties and hitting their peak.To be part of something like that going forward, I'm pretty excited about it to be honest."

The Bulldogs recently appointed The Rock-Yerong Creek stalwart Michael Mazzocchi as coach for the next two seasons, with an option for a third.

Josh Ashcroft and Chase Grintell shared the coaching duties for Turvey Park's AFL Riverina Championship campaign this year.

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