Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley says coaching and parenting are similarly satisfying jobs
AFL has been all-consuming for Nathan Buckley since stepping on the field as a player. And while his love remains strong, the Collingwood coach now has other priorities — two to be exact.
Confidential
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Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley has opened up about the joy of two similar jobs — coaching and parenting.
Buckley, the father of two sons, Jett, 13 and Ayce, 11, says he thrives in both roles.
“When you go to coaches courses it instructs you what to look out for in your relationships with your kids,’’ Buckley said.
“It’s a personal journey. But there are really strong similarities. You’re trying to look after, create a relationship and encourage and support young men to do what they want to do, and if that’s not what being a dad is, then what is?
“Absolutely I love it. I love the club environment. I love not feeling the pressure that it’s all you, that there are other guys who step up at other times.”
Buckley says after spending years in football he can now differentiate between what’s real and not.
“It’s interesting because you go through your whole life trying to be someone important through football and then you realise that when you get a bit older, everyone is important,’’ he said.
“Whether you’re put on a pedestal by the public or anyone else, everyone is doing something and everyone is important.
“The impact I have with the players and relationships I have with players, that’s real.
“Then the family relationships and the friendships, that’s the real stuff. Whether you had plenty of people that cared about whether you win or lose, it doesn’t change that.
“I could not be a senior coach tomorrow and the thing I would miss most would be spending the days with all the people at the footy club. That would be the thing I miss most so that’s what I love the most about it.”
Outside of footy, Buckley does yoga 4-5 times a week and enjoys chilling with Netflix.
He is also a Wolf Blass ambassador and on Monday night helped launch their 2020 Wolf Blass AFL and NRL promotion where one winner will choose between a decade of AFL or NRL Grand Final tickets for themselves and a mate.
He has also created his own wine, a limited edition called ‘Bucks Blend’.
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