LEOPOLD has confirmed the return of star defender Jye Cross after a season playing elsewhere as it looks to go one better than last year’s grand final appearance.
A firefighter, Cross played in a grand final with Ovens and Murray club Yarrawonga in 2022 while working in the state’s northeast.
A posting closer to Geelong has opened the door for the talented 27-year-old to return to Memorial Park in a welcome boost for the Lions.
“What a great pick-up,” Hocking said. “I thought I had him at the start of last year, and then he said he was moving up to Yarrawonga.
“We wished him well, and we were hoping and praying he could get an opportunity to be transferred back, and that’s the case.
“I was pretty excited the other night when he called and said he was back.
“He not only defends strongly and plays the Leopold way, but he’s a quality person.”
Cross will join 2016 premiership duo Sam Scott and Andrew Pepper in pulling on a green and gold jumper again, while former junior Tev Nofi returns to Leopold after a successful stint at BFNL club Drysdale.
Nofi won the Hawks’ best-and-fairest in 2019 but has been hampered by injury over the past two years.
Hocking is also bullish about the arrival of Kye Reynoldson from Queensland.
Reynoldson is the son of Hocking’s former Geelong teammate Stephen, who played 84 games for the Cats before ending his career with 58 games at the Brisbane Bears.
He came to Geelong to train with the Cats’ VFL squad but was cut just after Christmas.
“He’s very different to his father. Stephen was a centre half-forward who could play back,” Hocking said.
“Kye’s medium-size – about 184, 185cm wing/half-forward, good runner.
“When you hear the Reynoldson name bob up around Geelong, it was something we wanted to jump on and try to get him out to Leopold.
“He loved it and said if he didn’t make the VFL, he’d sign with us, and that’s been the case.”
Leopold has also landed Bannockburn premiership player Billy Ritchie, Seth Fiegert, who played three games with Grovedale in 2021, and former junior Jeremy Smith, who has returned from Modewarre.
The Lions have a training night with BFNL club Anglesea planned in early March ahead of practice matches against Essendon League powerhouse Keilor and GFNL rivals South Barwon at McDonald Reserve.
Hocking will give several youngsters, including Rory Desnoy, a chance to press their claims for a berth in the Round 1 clash with Lara.
Twitter: @tom_king79
