The Pigeons also secured former Yarrawonga premiership player Clint Runnalls who played alongside McKee at Essendon and District Football League club Aberfeldie last season.

McKee, Runnalls and Yarrawonga coach Craig Ednie are all grandsons of the late Tom Runnalls Snr, a former Pigeons’ president.

McKee, 31, was drafted to Richmond from Myrtleford with pick No.55 in the 1996 national draft and played 84 games for the Tigers and Collingwood between 1998 and 2004, including the Magpies’ 2002 grand final loss to the Brisbane Lions.

He rejoined Myrtleford for one year in 2006 and played in the Saints failed grand final appearance, losing to his cousins Ednie and Runnalls in Yarrawonga’s premiership before playing in Melbourne for the past two seasons.

Yarrawonga scoured the country for a ruckman to no avail last season and Ednie said it was a relief to sign McKee early in the off-season.

“He definitely ticks the boxes with a bit of height, so it’s great to get him on board,” Ednie said.

“He mainly rucked this year (at Aberfeldie) so he’ll do a bit of rucking for us.”

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