EFNL 2024: Star ruckman Liam Buxton returns to Vermont

The Eastern league power has made its first big signing of the off-season, luring one of local footy’s best ruckmen.

Liam Buxton (left) has returned to Vermont after playing for Sorrento this year. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)

The Eastern league’s most successful club wants to see his name beaming from the honour boards.

Powerhouse ruckman Liam Buxton’s return to Premier Division outfit Vermont is the first major signing under incoming coach Matt Adolph.

And the new mentor said he simply had a vision to sell the former Casey and Richmond VFL man, who last donned the purple and gold in 2021 before stops at Montmorency across 2022-23 and Sorrento this season.

“When I took over the coaching job I wanted to try and get as many Vermont people back, and Liam is A1 character and just a Vermont person through and through,” Adolph said, who was unveiled as Vermont coach last month.

“He’s played 85 games for us.

“My sell to him was, we want him to play 200 games and get his photo up on the board and make sure he finishes his career at his home club.”

Just 11 players make up the 200-club at Vermont across its 104-year history – with Robbie Ross and Tim Johnson joining the esteemed rollcall last year.

Buxton, who played 18 games for Sorrento in the MPFNL’s top-flight this year, also featured in Vermont’s 2018 premiership and represented the Eastern league on multiple occasions.

Widely regarded as one of local footy’s top ruckmen, he finished runner-up for the Northern league’s Division 1 best and fairest in 2023 and made the Team of the Year.

He returns to Vermont on a two-year deal after securing a job through a club sponsor.

Buxton flies for a grab in 2018. He began his time at Vermont in the under-19s in 2014. Picture: Valeriu Campan

“His presence around the ground, around training and he sets the standards throughout the week as well, they’re the types of guys we want at our footy club,” Adolph said.

“In the end it was pretty easy to get him over the line – the job helps, but he sees himself as a Vermont person as well.”

Adolph said the club had “a few irons in the fire” as it looked to build midfield depth this off-season – but some key names returning from injury were also set to provide a lift.

“We’ve got Alex Greenwood coming back (and) Harry Banfield, they’re on average 45 touches around the midfield for you which is a big plus,” he said.

“We’ve got Fraser Smith who can maybe do a bit of inside stuff and is coming back from a long-term injury.

“I’d like to develop from within, but we also know that with this competition, you’ve also got to get players from the outside.

“We’re talking to a few at the moment so we’ll just see what happens.”

Vermont finished the season in fourth with a 12-6 record before a shock first-week exit from the finals.