Melbourne v Collingwood: Nathan Buckley signs off in fitting fashion with upset win over Demons
Nathan Buckley departs Collingwood with “no regrets” and said his side’s shock win over Melbourne will hold the Magpies in good stead moving forward.
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Nathan Buckley says he leaves his post as Collingwood coach with “no regrets” after steering his side to a memorable victory over Melbourne that he believes will “build belief” in the playing group.
The Magpies scored a 17-point win in a scrappy tussle at the SCG, with Steele Sidebottom adding icing to the cake with a goal after the final siren.
Buckley was given a standing ovation by Collingwood fans and staff as he left the SCG, accompanied by his two sons Jett and Ayce.
It was Buckley’s 116th win as coach from 218 games in charge across 10 seasons.
“That’s why you’re involved in footy and to see all the ingredients come together to put in a performance like that together, it’s really a great way to finish the day,” Buckley said.
“Obviously it’s a bit more significant than that for me but to finish on that note, I can only say thank you to the players.
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“I’ve felt centred and calm for the whole week, to be honest. I understand and appreciate the reality of the situation and was looking forward to this opportunity for the boys to take another step and we spoke about that pre-game. We just wanted to take the next step. My step is the last one for this aspect of the journey and for them it’s another one on theirs.”
Buckley first joined Collingwood as a 21-year-old player from the Brisbane Bears in 1994.
He leaves the club 27 years later without a having played in or coached a premiership.
“What is ultimate success?,” Buckley said.
“I know we judge it on premierships. But have I done everything I can? Yeah. Do I have any regrets? No, I don’t have any regrets.
“I think you live and you learn and I think one of my personal strengths is to always have an open mind and an open heart to more growth and more improvement and in that sense I’m just so grateful for the people around the football club – the players and the staff. I’ve learnt so much from them, they’ve challenged me, they’ve improved me, I’m a better person because of my experiences at Collingwood.”
THE FINAL SPEECH
Buckley handed out an emotion-charged final speech to his players at three-quarter-time, with his side holding only a slender five-point lead over the ladder-leaders.
It worked, in a clear sign that he still had the playing group, the Magpies going on to kick three goals to one in the final term and run away with victory.
“Three-quarter time was simply to say thank you to the players for their efforts to that point and to give 30 minutes more of our football to get the reward in the short term and to frank the efforts that they’d put in in the first three quarters,” Buckley said.
“Obviously there’s ebbs and flows in seasons, there’s ebbs and flows in games. Melbourne have been clearly the best performed team during the year, so to be on the even keel with them at three-quarter time, it was an opportunity too good to miss and we were pretty good after that.”
THE FAMILY
Buckley’s two sons Jett and Ayce joined the Magpies on their flight to Sydney on Sunday and were front and centre as Buckley left the field for the last time as Collingwood coach.
The pair went on to join in the team song in the rooms after the game.
“It’s been great to share it with them,” Buckley said.
“I don’t know how many coaches get to get their kids into a winning theme song, so to get to sing the song with the boys was good fun.”
WHAT LIES NEXT
At the press conference announcing his departure on Wednesday, Buckley said he was unsure what the future held on a personal note.
Five days later, he was none the wiser.
Asked is he had given thought to what would come next, Buckley responded: “No I haven’t”.
“This week I was really focused on today and just trying to get the job as best we can and it was awesome to be able to play the way we did and to be able to get the result,” he said.
“My initial feeling has been to get to this point and to take some time for myself and for my boys. I’ve still got a lot of life to live and I’ve still got passions to chase and Collingwood will always be a passion and I will always want to see it as an organisation and the people within it prosper and I’ll be supporting from afar. But now there’s a little bit of open space and a little bit of blue sky and I think we all want that, it’s just a matter of what you fill it with.”
WILL BUCKLEY COACH AGAIN?
A coaching comeback in some capacity down the track for Buckley has been far from ruled out.
Buckley turns 49 next month and was quick to point out there are many years left ahead of him to fill that “blue sky” he now faces.
“I don’t know,” Buckley said, when asked if he needed time to refresh before considering coaching again.
“I’ll sit down and have a couple of beers with everyone tonight. The club goes into the bye and it’s a good feeling to go into the bye with. They’ll come out the other side and Harves (Robert Harvey) will take the reins and continue on its path.
“For me, I’ll go in at some stage this week when no one’s around and clear the office and consider what my next step is. I do believe that when you’re in something, you’re 100 per cent in. And I think when you’re out of something, you’re probably 100 per cent out otherwise you’re wasting energy. So that’s what I’ve learned in my time. I can’t give you a really clear road map right now.”
HOW PENDLES PREPPED FOR BUCKS’ PIES FAREWELL
Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury said before Monday’s match that the Pies’ constant drama is no excuse for their poor season and he hoped to send off outgoing coach Nathan Buckley in victory.
Monday’s Queen’s Birthday clash with top side Melbourne was be Buckley’s 218th and final match in charge, ending more than two decades of involvement in the black and white.
Buckley’s mutual decision to resign came as a shock to Pendlebury, even with the rumblings about his coaching future and the consistent turmoil that has beleaguered the club for months.
Pendlebury, who said he felt “a bit numb” on receiving the news, has forged a close relationship with Buckley as both a teammate then playing under him as a captain.
Buckley will be the latest senior figure to depart Collingwood since the end of last season, including football boss Geoff Walsh, president Eddie McGuire and list manager Ned Guy.
The Magpies have dealt with various issues in that time, from salary cap woes to the ‘Do Better’ report that uncovered “systemic racism” at the club and now a 3-9 record that sees them in 16th place.
Pendlebury said being a Collingwood footballer meant accepting the heightened interest in the club and that he would love “blue skies and no issues” but felt that was unrealistic.
“I’ve been a part of this football club for 15 or 16 years and there’s always a story – there’s always something happening,” he said.
“It’s a privilege (but) also there’s pressure at times that comes with that. It’s all part of being an AFL footballer.
“All the stuff that’s happened, I don’t think it’s an excuse to be 3-9.
“We can’t go, ‘There’s too much pressure on us this year’ or anything like that.”
Long-time assistant Robert Harvey will serve as the Pies’ caretaker coach for the rest of the season, but Pendlebury heaped praise on the departing Buckley.
“He’s been such a strong figure and such a big role model for the way to attack your football career and the way to attack life,” Pendlebury said.
“He’s been a huge impact on me, probably more so as a coach than a player, because I only played with him for probably a handful of games.
“He was injured quite a bit towards the end.
“But his impact as an assistant coach, then since being a senior coach; the relationship we’ve formed over that nine-and-a-half years has been fantastic.
“To play under him and to be involved in a part of his journey has been a privilege.”
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