Nathan Buckley farewells Magpies with memorable win; hats tipped to the resilience of Neale Daniher

The Queen’s Birthday had us inspired by Neale Daniher yet again, and reflective in Nathan Buckley’s last game. But will this be the last time we see them at an AFL match?

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 14: Magpies head coach Nathan Buckley celebrates victory after coaching his final match for the Magpies during the round 13 AFL match between the Melbourne Demons and the Collingwood Magpies at Sydney Cricket Ground on June 14, 2021 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

It was Nathan Buckley’s farewell to Collingwood on Monday and a day on which we might have publicly said goodbye to Neale Daniher.

Neale’s Big Freeze at the ‘G preceded Buckley’s final curtain at the SCG.

The Pies won narrowly, and it was incredibly moving, a gift of thanks and respect to Buckley on the final day of a quarter-century career at Collingwood.

Daniher and his cause won, too. They always do. And Daniher will always be a winner.

The Queen’s Birthday Monday is always a day of mixed emotion, even more so on Monday because the illustrious career of Buckley wound up with the Magpies.

He masterminded yet another dogged and united performance, a miracle in footy terms against the top-of-the-table Demons.

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Outgoing Magpies coach Nathan Buckley celebrates victory with Brayden Maynard. Picture: Getty Images

The Pies were in for the fight and the Demons not so much.

At the final siren, Buckley gave out more hugs than Melbourne laid tackles.

“In the moment, it’s awesome,’’ Buckley said.

Good things happen to good people

Certainly, he’ll know he had the hearts and minds of the players, maybe not always through his career, but certainly at the end.

Skipper Scott Pendlebury — his long-time trusted lieutenant — was best afield and Jordan De Goey gave him his best and Brayden Maynard, well, he always gives his best.

The song in the rooms was all-in — Bucks, his boys, his players and all the staff.

And then it was over.

It was a day of smiles, nevertheless.

Buckley, 48, and Daniher, 60, can’t be compared and Bucks, nor anyone, would begin to entertain the comparison.

Bec and Neale Daniher at Big Freeze 7, which went ahead at the Melbourne Cricket Ground despite the Queen’s Birthday clash being played in Sydney. Picture: Getty Images

Buckley was a footballer and was a coach. He was high profile, a high achiever and highly motivated.

Daniher was a footballer, was a coach and then, because of the way he has fought his beastly illness, moved into another stratosphere.

Respect is always front of mind when it comes to Neale and even more so this year.

Respect, because he was only supposed to live for three years and he’s more than doubled that.

“I’m hard to kill,’’ he loved to say.

Buckley with sons Ayce and Jett after coaching his final game for the Magpies. Picture: Getty Images

He was right. And still is right.

But behind the smiles and the TV appearances that we’ve seen these past two weeks, is a man with a broken body.

Despite that, he still put his hand up to be at the ‘G when we would have forgiven him for resting instead.

Fittingly, the Queen finally gave “The Reverend’’ the nod on Monday — an OAM for a bloke from the bush with bung knees who began a cause, and movement, that has captured the nation.

Daniher with the participants in this year’s Big Freeze. Picture: Getty Images

For the seventh year, Daniher and his family and their merry band of sliders made it to the MCG.

The ground was empty, but it looked to bubble with spirit and the league ceo Gillon McLachlan was all revved up as Meat Loaf.

We might not see the Reverend next year, but we said that last year and the year before that.

Bucks surely would call him a tough ol’ bastard.

What would Daniher say of Bucks?

Really, what hasn’t been said of Buckley in the past five days?

He joked in the pre-match on Fox Footy that it had been like reading his eulogy.

“That’s the end of something and the start of something and that’s the cycle of life,’’ Buckley said of his final day for Collingwood.

Always, champs come and go and it’s sad for footy, but they leave their footprint on the game and on others.

Buckley applauds his players after they pulled off an upset win in his final game at the helm. Picture: Getty Images

It was Buckley’s 218th game as coach yesterday. He also played 260 games.

He joins Jock McHale, Bobby Rose, Gordon Coventry, Peter McKenna and Peter Daicos, among others, as legendary contributors to the black and white.

Buckley may or may not be the best there ever was at Collingwood, but clearly he was on a different plane to most.

I was sent an email by a Mr Glenn Smith at the weekend, which included an article dated April 5, 1950.

It was about the resignation of McHale, who coached the Pies from 1912-1949.

It was nine paragraphs long.

Buckley’s coaching career at the same club bit the dust last Wednesday — he coached from 2012-2021 — and the Herald Sun published 14 pages.

“He embodies everything great about our game and about Australians, still the humour, courage and commitment to his community.’’

That was McLachlan talking about Daniher at the MCG yesterday.

The same could be said of Buckley and his commitment to Collingwood and for the greater game.

Will we see him the year after next or maybe the year after that at another club? Who knows.

The first two chapters of his football life have been captivating, love him or hate him, so we look forward to whatever comes next.