GWS Giants star Jack Buckley facing big hurdle to watch partner Celeste Mucci at Paris Olympics
After several AFL players were granted leave to miss matches, GWS defender Jack Buckley asked for leave to watch his partner hurdle at the Olympics in Paris, reports JAY CLARK.
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GWS Giants’ defender Jack Buckley says he is “unlikely” to miss a game to watch his girlfriend and star hurdler Celeste Mucci compete at the 2024 Olympic Games next month.
The gun backman said he nervously broached the idea with GWS coach Adam Kingsley but didn’t receive an encouraging response as the Giants try and lock in a finals spot.
Mucci, who has overcome serious hamstring surgery in February to qualify, is scheduled to compete in the 100m women’s hurdles heats in Paris on Wednesday, August 7.
The final is slated for Saturday, August 10, which clashes with the Giants’ Round 22 clash against Brisbane Lions at the Gabba.
Clubs have shown a willingness to support players’ family events this year with Melbourne’s Ed Langdon, Collingwood’s Oleg Markov and Cat Oisin Mullin all missing games for weddings in 2024.
Buckley said he unsuccessfully raised the prospect of missing a game with his coach, but would consider another approach to watch his partner wear the green and gold.
Another option is to fly out immediately after the Round 21 clash against Hawthorn, watch Mucci’s heat, and then fly back in time for the Round 22 clash against Brisbane on Saturday.
“It is very exciting that Celeste made it, and we are all very excited to watch,” Buckley said on Triple M.
“I was in his (Kingsley’s) office a little while ago, and he does love his athletics, so I was actually too scared (laughing) to ask him.
“And he knew I was trying to ask him but was too scared to get it out.
“He picked up the fixture and sort of looked at who we had … (Brisbane in Round 22).
“So he said, ‘Nah mate you are not going’.
“I’m getting a lot of flak around it but unfortunately it is out of my hands. We will see.
“It is very unlikely and I’m also scared to ask him again.”
The Giants would almost certainly permit Buckley to fly out if that was the path he chose.
Melbourne winger Langdon praised the club’s maturity for letting him go to his sister’s wedding, meaning he missed the loss to West Coast in Round 10.
“It’s a credit to ‘Goody’ and the culture we have built at our footy club that the club feels comfortable to let a player go mid-season if it is really important to them, which it was,” Langdon said.
“To have completely unwavering support from the club – it is a pretty special environment and culture to be a part of.
“They were super supportive from the get-go and we put a plan in place.”
But it is a tough choice for the gun GWS defender who is hopeful Sam Taylor will return from a ruptured testicle either on Saturday against Gold Coast or the following week against Melbourne in Round 20.
Mucci, who is from Williamstown, said she was thrilled to qualify for her first Olympics.
“Delayed but not denied. This year was the hardest physically and mentally to try and qualify,” Mucci said.
“After rupturing my hamstring tendon and getting surgery in February I did everything I could to get back healthy.”
The 193cm Buckley, 26, has played 15 games this year and finished seventh in the club’s best and fairest last season.
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Originally published as GWS Giants star Jack Buckley facing big hurdle to watch partner Celeste Mucci at Paris Olympics
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