‘I was on a self-destructive alcohol-fuelled binge that was taking me nowhere other than deeper into the dark side’

Jimmy Buckley played hard but admitting he was an alcoholic and getting off the grog was by far the toughest thing he has ever done.

Jimmy Buckley, 63, has notched up two years of sobriety, or 745 days and counting. But booze took him “to the dark side” first. Picture: David Caird

By the completion of the 1982 season, 22-year-old Jimmy Buckley was close enough to the finest footballer in the land, a three-time Premiership player in just seven seasons with Carlton and its 1982 best and fairest in a team laden with stars.

They were the days when Carlton played and partied hard, and none partied harder than “Bucks’, the kid from Kyneton who had been recruited by the Blues as a precocious 16-year-old.

Four decades later his life was at the crossroads, a loveable larrikin who had by his own admission succumbed to some of the trappings of fame. But through the darkness he always had two constants in his life, son Dylan and daughter Jess. And his love for his children and grandchildren has recently seen 63-year-old Buckley notch up two years of sobriety, or 745 days and counting as of today.

It’s the toughest thing he’s ever done, tougher than going head to head with Hawthorn powerhouse Leigh Matthews, tougher than trading blows with Richmond’s Mick Malthouse.

But piece by piece he is winning back respect from both family and friends as he discovers a whole new world, one where his focus is sharper, his work ethic three-fold and his happiness more genuine.

Jimmy Buckley has given up the booze after many years of drinking heavily. Picture: David Caird

Buckley blames nobody but himself for the position he found himself in, where alcohol was his master and time or punctuality his enemy. His New Year’s resolution was to be on time for whatever his commitment, and he’s making inroads (being only 10 minutes late for this interview).

His drinking became an everyday thing, with starting time gradually reaching opening hours at his favourite South Melbourne hotel, Buckley’s tolerance allowing him to do so: “I mainly drank beer and some white wine. The red wine was just too heavy, so maybe some Rose or pinot noir. Fortunately I didn’t get on the spirits too often and when I did, my drinking companions would walk out,” said Buckley with a typically throaty laugh.

Cheeky and combative when required, Buckley is the boy who never learnt to say no as he explained during the week: “Let’s start by saying my problems were in no way caused by Carlton, which is a great football club and one that helped many young men, and now women, grow,” said Buckley, who works in demolition and recycling.

Buckley in the 1979 Grand Final.

Buckley celebrates in a 1990 game against Essendon.

“They gave me a lot of opportunity and chances but in February, 2021, my son Dylan told me I had to do something about it (drinking). I was on a self-destructive alcohol-fuelled binge that was taking me nowhere other than deeper into the dark side. And I had let a lot of people down over a long period and it was time to do something about it.

“It took a while but I reluctantly owned up to my behaviours and spent three weeks in the Melbourne Clinic under a great doctor named John Perica, who I’m still in touch with, and the care of my outstanding GP Dr Evan Grambas. Initially we didn’t tell my daughter Jess because while she is very strong, she was having her first baby and didn’t need to deal with that.

“Over two years on and I haven’t had a drink since. If you’d told someone that at the time they would have offered you 5000/1 (laughter). But I honestly haven’t had a drink, not one. If I had one, I would have 101.

“Will I ever have one again? I can’t definitely say no but I’m working hard towards that goal. I recently went to the wake of a wonderful bloke named Barry Round where 400 of Australia’s biggest drinkers were in the room and I did it easily.”

Buckley is tackled in the 1979 Grand Final against Collingwood.

Buckley with his daughter Jessica and grandchildren Woody and Romy. Picture: David Caird

It’s easier for Buckley now than it was in the beginning, partly because of the addiction and partly because people naturally associated him with having a drink in his hand, and now respect his situation.

It used to make them feel better to see him drinking, to share a beer or wine with a 178cm centreman/rover who was described by teammate Ken Sheldon as “the best pound for pound footballer I played with or against”.

Dylan Buckley, who played 39 games with Carlton and two with GWS between 2012-2019, believes his relationship with his father has never been better.

“He was struggling with depression and mental health fuelled by alcohol. Growing up I always knew (the problem) but could never have those conversations with dad because our relationship was a surface one,” said Dylan, 29.

“I decided it was my problem, not my mum’s anymore, so I had to do something. It was really hard having waited 28 years to say something. It took three weeks to get him to agree to see a doctor but there was no choice.

“As shit as the situation was, I found strength in the fact I was doing it. Suddenly I was the one, and I realised it wasn’t my fault. It was a shit hard time yet my relationship with my dad has never been better.

“Dropping him off at the rehab clinic and both of us crying, it was such a shit time but arguably almost the best times. I had never seen dad cry. Now, I’m just so proud of him.”

For Buckley to climb aboard the wagon of dryness he naturally required the support of family and friends, and while he has burnt a few along the way, enough stood up when it mattered.

“I must give a lot of credit to Penny, my partner at the time, who was so supportive when the call was made, as was Debbie who has been a great mother to our two kids in Dylan and Jess. And a friend named Andrew Dawson, who won’t want to be mentioned but who is just a great person.”

Buckley with his son Dylan during trade week.

Buckley shares a drink with Peter Bosustow in 2002.

David Parkin, his coach in the 1979-81-82 Premierships, is proud of Buckley’s two-year achievement: “Put it this way, if you could transfer his on-field toughness to the mental strength required to give up drinking, then he was always going to be a chance because Jimmy Buckley was uncompromising,” said Parkin, 80.

“I’m biased but Jimmy Buckley, Rod Ashman, Ken Sheldon and Alex Marcou to me is the best small fleet ever assembled. And don’t forget “Bucks” missed six games in 1982 yet still beat players like Bruce Doull, Ken Hunter, Mike Fitzpatrick, Wayne Harmes, Wayne Johnston and Peter Bosustow in the best and fairest.”