COLLINGWOOD captain Nathan Buckley has declared himself available for senior selection after a commanding comeback for VFL affiliate side Williamstown.

Buckley showed no signs of the hamstring problems that have plagued him all year in racking up 29 touches and kicking four goals in Williamstown’s 115-point drubbing of Port Melbourne at TEAC Oval.

The 2003 Brownlow medallist played more than 100 minutes and came off the ground to a standing ovation at the 10-minute mark of the fourth quarter.

Buckley said he “had a ball” in his first game for the season and was ready to rejoin his Collingwood teammates as they prepare for the finals.

“I’ll be putting my hand up,” he said.

“The best thing about today is that I got through and it’s another step in my recovery and, I suppose, my attempts to prove my fitness.”

A crowd of about 2500 flocked to TEAC Oval to watch Buckley in his comeback game, with gate takings up by more than 400 per cent on a regular season fixture.

Wearing the No.3 guernsey instead of his usual No.5, Buckley took little time to assert his authority, smothering a kick early in the first quarter before slotting his first of four goals at the eight minute mark.

“I went in with a focus of going out there and enjoying myself,” he said. “I haven’t had the opportunity to play a game for nearly a year, so it was something I was looking forward to.

“To have a good win and to play a part in that was even better. I really enjoyed it.”

Buckley’s movement and acceleration appeared unhindered throughout the match, with the Collingwood skipper only noting his lack of match fitness as a concern.

“I felt like I’ve trained pretty well in the couple of weeks leading up to today,” he said.

“(I have a) bit of general fatigue. I’m looking forward to pulling up sore tomorrow for all the right reasons.”

Buckley also revealed fears he would never return to football after several interrupted returns due to recurring injury problems.

“As I said, various times over the last six months you don’t think it’s going to happen,” he said.

“To see the boys have a close win on Friday night and to be out and about today, it’s been a good couple of days.”

Buckley, who started in the midfield and was rotated through the forward line, said he was pleased with his return.

“I was happy with it,” he said. “I really wanted to focus on getting around stoppages because that is something that is hard to reproduce at training.

“I think I’m covering the ground okay, so playing midfield or playing forward in many ways it probably suits my body to be moving around more than stop start that you might have deep forward or deep back.”