Geelong premiership player Max Rooke will join the Gold Coast SUNS as a development coach in 2016.

Rooke, who retired at the end of the 2010 season, played 135 games with the Cats and was a key player in both the 2007 and 2009 premierships.

He transitioned into a coaching role in 2012 and has been working with the Cats' young players for the last four seasons.

GC SUNS General Manager - Football Operations, Marcus Ashcroft, confirmed the appointment.

“We are thrilled to announce that Max Rooke will join our coaching staff,” Ashcroft said.

“Max is a quality person and we believe our younger players will learn an enormous amount from him as development coach.”

Rooke’s appointment follows the appointment of Stephen Daniel as GC SUNS NEAFL coach and Andrew Raines as GC SUNS Talent Academy Coach.

Rooke will commence his coaching duties next Monday 2 November.