The 32-year-old has joined the Central Highlands Football League club from Numurkah and is touted as an exciting sidekick to established ruckman Anthony Ebery.

Oliver played a total of 10 games for St Kilda between 2001 and 2003, kicking one career goal against the West Coast Eagles.

Buninyong joint-coach Jarrod Morgan likened Oliver to veteran Daylesford ruckman Scott Winduss and believed he was an exciting addition to the senior side’s structure.

“He won’t be as aerobic as Plugger (Ebery), but just as good of a tap ruckman and will be good around the ground for us,” Morgan said.

“It will free up Plugger to go more forward for us, which will be good.

“We have really got two number one ruckmen now.”

Morgan said the forward options were exciting for the Bombers, which have also confirmed the return of spearhead Glen Phelps after he played just one senior game in 2014.

Phelps has been one of the competition’s leading goal-kickers during the past few years and has committed to another campaign in red and black.

Speedy Alec Wiltshire, from Avoca, midfielder/winger Sam Lehmann, from Horsham Saints, and tall Sam Gibson, from Creswick, are confirmed recruits, as is forward Billie Leskosek, who returns to the club after a stint with SMW Rovers.

Lehmann was set to play for the Bombers this year, but sustained a shoulder injury in a practice match and required season-ending surgery.

Morgan said every single player that played senior football with Buninyong last season had committed again for 2015.

“We are much better placed right now than this time last year, for sure. Injury-wise and a few other things,” Morgan said.

Morgan is now in a joint-coaching position with Jake Bridges, who arrived at the club last season in a mentoring assistant role.

tim.oconnor@fairfaxmedia.com.au