Wylie Buzza Biography

Port Adelaide makes the early decision to delist Joe Atley, Wylie Buzza, Tobin Cox and Riley Grundy.

"We've reached the time of the year where we have to make difficult decisions about the direction we take with our playing list," Power head of football Chris Davies said.

"I would like to thank Joe, Riley, Tobin and Wylie for their efforts and professionalism during their time at the club, and the contribution they have made to our group.

"They will always be part of the Port Adelaide family, and we wish them well for the future on and off the field."

Port Adelaide recruit Wylie Buzza says he left Geelong in search of more senior playing opportunities.

The 23-year-old played nine senior games with the Cats – and none in 2019 – as he had to bide his time behind AFL All Australian full forward Tom Hawkins.

"I thought the writing was on the wall somewhat, very much starved of opportunity, but so were a lot of us," Buzza said.

"We had hardly any injuries this year and the common theme that (Cats coach) Chris Scott said publicly was we were enjoying the fact we didn't have injuries and we were having that continuity of the same team. It did make it hard for us guys to get in.

"Once Port showed a bit of interest, Ken (coach Ken Hinkley) was straight on to the phone with me and we had a good chat. He put his pitch forward of why he wants me across and I really liked what he had to say, so I'm pretty excited."

Port Adelaide sign Wylie Buzza as a delisted free agent.

"I really enjoyed my time at Geelong even though I didn't get the results and outcomes that I was hoping for, but I'm super excited to get another opportunity and I'm looking forward to getting stuck in," Buzza said.

"I see myself as an AFL-standard footballer and I think I can contribute to overall team success rather than just being a number on the list. I know I might not get the opportunities straight away but I'm confident I can be a contributor at AFL level."

Wylie Buzza is delisted by Geelong after four years on the Cats' list.

"Wylie's character and personality have seen him become a popular figure amongst his teammates, coaches and club staff over his four years here," Geelong head of football Simon Lloyd said.

"We thank Wylie for his contribution to the club. Everyone at Geelong wishes him the best for the future."

Jake Kolodjashnij, Wylie Buzza and Jordan Cunico sign new deals with Geelong to remain at the club until the end of 2019.

"We see Jake, Wylie and Jordan as key members of our team well into the future," Geelong’s general manager of football Steve Hocking said.

"Jake has already shown his ability, work ethic and versatility. He plays and prepares in the Geelong way and makes our team and our club better.

"Wylie and Jordan continue to work hard at their craft and while they haven't experienced a lot of football at AFL level, we hope to integrate them as part of our core group in the coming years."

Wylie Buzza makes his AFL debut for Geelong with 6 disposals (4 kicks and 2 handballs), 3 marks, 7 tackles and 2 goals in a draw with GWS.

Wylie Buzza says he's happy to be a cult figure - he just doesn't want to be a dud one.

The shaggy-haired Queenslander was one of the stories of the 2015 NAB AFL Draft, owing largely to his distinctive name and background.

"I don't want to be a dud. I'm happy to be a cult hero, I just don't want to be a bad cult hero," Buzza said.

"I want to be someone they can cheer for and not just someone they can look at."

Buzza grew up in a rugby league dominated household – his father, in fact, despised the AFL.

"I literally had no interest in playing the game whatsoever, no-one did back home," Buzza said.

The code-switch came about after he decided to travel to Toowoomba to try out for a school footy team when he was 15 – with the added bonus of being able to skip his classes in the process.

"No-one at school played it, we had no AFL programs, no nothing. It was literally for a day off school," he said.

Geelong select Wylie Buzza with pick No.66 at the 2015 NAB AFL Draft.

"Wylie did a really good job for Queenland in the Under-18 Championships, as well as playing some senior footy," Cats recruiting chief Stephen Wells said.

"He's a developing forward – he's got a long way to go having not played a lot of footy in his sporting life. He's big, he's willing and has a real crack."