Nathan Buckley’s gut-wrenching AFL Grand Final loss speech and the Eagles fan who helped him

Nathan Buckley has never sugar-coated how tough last year’s Grand Final loss was, not only to him but his players. Struggling to find the words to console his group, help came from the unlikeliest of sources.

MELBOURNE, VICTORIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Magpies head coach Nathan Buckley look dejected after defeat after their defeat during the 2018 AFL Grand Final match between the Collingwood Magpies and the West Coast Eagles at Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 29, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/AFL Media/Getty Images)

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Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley tells his shattered side he can’t help them in a gut-wrenching speech after last year’s Grand Final loss to West Coast.

Slumped in a chair underneath the MCG in the aftermath of the five-point defeat, an emotional Buckley attempts to console his tearful playing group.

“I don’t know how to lead you right now, boys. I don’t know how to lead you with that experience. I’m sorry,” Buckley says.

Buckley’s address will feature in a documentary, Collingwood: From The Inside Out, on the ABC tonight.

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Nathan Buckley with his family after the loss.

Nathan Buckley and Brodie Grundy embrace

Buckley’s speech goes to the heart of his transformation as a coach, with the fiercely driven former player later admitting in the feature that “the human side is far more important than I ever imagined”.

“I’m f---ing so proud of this group. I f---ing love this group,” he tells the players after the loss to the Eagles.

“We’ll be hurting for a little while from this. We’ll f---ing hurt, but I don’t know what to say to make you better because nothing is going to make you better right now.

“But I believe in who you are, and I believe in what we bring.”

In a compelling look at the Pies’ journey to last year’s decider, a candid Buckley discusses his tortured record in big games as a player and coach.

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“In my AFL career I’ve now been involved in the ’02 Grand Final loss as a player, ’03 Grand Final loss as a player, 2011 (Grand Final) loss as an assistant, and 2018,” he said.

“So can I speak with full knowledge and authority on what it absolutely takes for team success? Maybe I can’t.”

But in an attempt to reset his team’s focus at the start of the 2019 pre-season, Buckley used a letter he received from a West Coast fan as proof it was on the right path.

“I’ve been a fan of the West Coast Eagles since 1997 and I’ve hated Collingwood for the same amount of time. I was wrong,” Buckley reads.

“I’ve noticed something different, something inspiring, something special. Your team are creating something special at Collingwood.”

Collingwood: From The Inside Out screens at 9.30pm tonight on ABC.

Originally published as Nathan Buckley’s gut-wrenching AFL Grand Final loss speech and the Eagles fan who helped him