VAFA 2019: Former Collingwood player Simon Buckley joins Ormond

A mighty boost for Ormond on the eve of the season, signing former Melbourne and Collingwood player Simon Buckley.

Simon Buckley playing for Collingwood against Melbourne in 2011. He will line-up with Ormond in VAFA Premier C this season.

A mighty boost for Ormond on the eve of the season, signing former Melbourne and Collingwood player Simon Buckley.

The 31-year-old played 47 AFL games between 2006-2012 and is a former Ormond junior.

He returns to the Monders to play alongside his brother and club captain Tom Buckley.

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After finishing at AFL level, Buckley played with Echuca FC where he won five successive club best and fairests and two Goulburn Valley league medals.

In a message to the Echuca club, Buckley said his decision to leave was “probably the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make’’.

“A mixture of the travel and my body letting me down…it wasn’t sustainable,’’ he wrote on Facebook.

Simon Buckley takes a kick for the Pies.

Ormond coach Ash Lever said Buckley would give the Monders a shot of class in Premier C.

“He’s extremely strong and his aerobic capacity is through the roof so he will play mid-forward,’’ he said.

“He will be pretty hard to stop in the forward half and he finds the ball pretty well, too.’’

Ormond, after winning the seniors and reserves flags last season, has assembled a strong list for its rise to the VAFA third division.

Zebras-listed Jackson Hille and Ethan Hanley have both returned from Caulfield Grammarians and Blake Picone is back from De La Salle.

Several under-19 players will step into senior ranks, including Dylan Hamilton, Zach Benson and Harry Bingham.

Ormond celebrate their win in the VAFA Division 1 grand final last season. Picture: David Crosling

Last season’s grand final hero Max Kennedy will again be a key Ormond player while he trains with Port Melbourne as part of the ‘Borough Academy’.

And Ormond best and fairest winner Blair Atkins is on the Zebras list.

Ormond’s practice match form has been strong, beating Old Mentonians and East Ringwood.

The Monders will unfurl its seniors and reserves flags on Saturday when they host PEGS at Gunn Reserve in the season-opener.

Ormond 2019

Coach: Ash Lever.

Ins: Simon Buckley (Echuca), Jackson Hille, Ethan Hanley (Caulfield Grammarians), Blake Picone (De La Salle).

Outs: Rob Chisholm (retired).