Buckley banks 200-game milestone

Westside Wolves’ star player Elly Buckley will hit the 200-game milestone in the Premier League when her side takes on Suburban Lions on Tuesday 24 May at Lemnos Field.

Buckley, the 2021 Jackie Pereira Top Goal Scorer Award winner, has been a stalwart in Westside Wolves’ top women’s side for several years.

For 30-year-old Buckley, the 200-game milestone is something she says she will cherish and has been made extra special, due to her hockey playing days spanning across a 25-year period at Wolves.

“To be honest, my body feels like I have played 5000 games, but it is really exciting to be able to reach these milestones, particularly with such an amazing team,” Buckley said.

“I started playing minkey around five-years-old – Wolves has always been family, starting back to when my dad played and coached me, my sisters and brothers.

“Wolves has always been a part of my life and a big reason why I have loved playing for so many years.”

In her 200-games, Buckley has several memorable moments, but a Grand Final day featuring the men’s and women’s Westside Wolves sides, a highlight in the club’s history, sticks out in her mind.

“One of the best memories was when there was a Grand Final where both of our men’s and women’s teams were playing on the same day,” Buckley said.

“I remember I had a proposition with Nathan Eglington that I would wear the mascot suit if the boys made the Grand Final, and you guessed it, I was a wolf for the day!

“The girls won, and the boys did well too but unfortunately just fell short, but it just felt like an incredible achievement for our club.”

Reflecting on her time at Wolves and reaching the milestone, Buckley says it is the people surrounding her at Wolves - particularly her sister, Jemma Buckley – that have made her time playing hockey a joy.

“I honestly would not have played this long if my sister (Jemma Buckley) was not around, as well as some of my best friends in the team,” Buckley said.

“Also, a huge credit and shout out to our family for their amazing support over the years – they have always been our biggest fans.

“It has been such an amazing time and I honestly would not change it for the world.”

See Elly Buckley and her Wolves compete in her 200-game milestone match against Suburban Lions from 7:00pm, Tuesday 24 May at Lemnos Field.