Nathan Buckley savours Collingwood’s gutsy win over Sydney
COLLINGWOOD coach Nathan Buckley said his team’s nailbiting win over Sydney at the SCG was one of his most enjoyable victories from his six seasons in the role.
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COLLINGWOOD coach Nathan Buckley said his team’s thrilling one-point win over Sydney at the SCG was one of his most enjoyable victories from his six seasons in the role.
Speaking immediately after his team recorded their first win of the season, alleviating some of the pressure on him and his club, Buckley also challenged his side to back that form up against St Kilda on Sunday week.
“Your last one’s always the best one,” Buckley said.
“It was important for us to open the ledger for the season. We had put ourselves in a bit of hole (with opening round losses to Western Bulldogs and Richmond).
“We clearly have a lot of work to do, having period of dominance in the game and not being able to sustain it.
“But we got through against a side like Sydney, and in Buddy (Franklin’s) 250th game.”
Franklin was held goalless, with young Magpie Henry Schade playing on him for most of the night, a task that Buckley said the defender relished.
Buckley praised his leaders for the way they attacked the contest, with skipper Scott Pendlebury, Taylor Adams and Steele Sidebottom performing brilliantly, as did Adam Treloar, who kicked a massive third term goal.
“Their leadership was first class,” he said.
“There has been a little bit of criticism around their defensive pressure. They are elite players and pressure players.”
The Magpies squandered a number of shots at goal late after giving up the lead for the first time in the game before Will Hoskin-Elliott, in his third game in black and white, kicked the matchwinning goal.
Pendlebury looked sore after having his legs taken from under him by Dan Hannebury, but he played out the game, and Buckley said he pulled up fine.
Originally published as Nathan Buckley savours Collingwood’s gutsy win over Sydney
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