Collingwood reappoints Nathan Buckley as coach for a further two seasons

NATHAN Buckley will coach Collingwood in 2018 and beyond after winning the support of Eddie McGuire and the Magpies’ board to stay in the top job.

Nathan Buckley and Eddie McGuire will stick together at Collingwood after Bucks was reappointed for a further two seasons. Picture: Getty Images

COLLINGWOOD has reappointed Nathan Buckley for another two seasons, ending the season-long discussion around his future at the club.

The Magpies announced the new deal along with a raft of other changes in a press conference this morning, with president Eddie McGuire and football director Geoff Walsh to detailing the decision, along with Buckley in attendance.

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Nathan Buckley and Eddie McGuire will stick together at Collingwood after Bucks was reappointed for a further two seasons. Picture: Getty Images

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McGuire was succinct in the board’s support of the incumbent coach.

“We’ve acknowledged the mistakes and shortcomings of our football club as a whole and we believe we have taken the steps to get back to the pre-eminent football club in Australia,” McGuire said.

“Part of that decision is to reappoint Nathan.”

Buckley said he was rapt to receive the call from McGuire in the affirmative.

“I woke up this morning to the news and I was humbled and a little bit nervous, to be honest,” Buckley said of the news.

“I’m rapt the review and the recommendation from the review ... supported retaining me as senior coach.”

Buckley has endured a tough year, but is understood to have the support of the players. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Buckley’s tenure at the club has been under intense scrutiny all season, as the Magpies failed to make the finals for the fourth successive year.

But while Collingwood finished 13th, Buckley’s team was competitive for much of the year, despite winning only nine games for the season.

It is also understood his relationship with the players played another key role in his reappointment,

Walsh tabled his review into the football department to the club’s board last Tuesday, and Buckley will now go on to coach the club in seasons 2018 and 2019.

Buckley has coached 136 games at Collingwood, which produced 70 wins, 65 losses and a draw. The Pies made the finals in Buckley’s first two seasons, but have not done so in each of his past four.

Buckley has managed to keep a smile on his dial, despite a tough season. Picture: Getty Images

He’s coached four finals for one win.

In an email to club members, McGuire gushed about the reappointed coach.

“We have seen the way this list plays for Nathan. He is a man of the highest integrity, he has compassion for his players on and off the field, he is uncompromising in his commitment to the role and we believe he is taking this group in the right direction,” McGuire said.

“As a club we instigated a list rebuild following our 2013 campaign and Nathan has been exemplary in his commitment to developing the young talent brought on to our list and creating a team-first ethos that we believe will take us back to where we want to be as a club.

“The club has taken the One Collingwood blueprint process very seriously and the Board took time to consider all the information presented at our meeting on Tuesday night. With the benefit of that in-depth report we, as a Board, believe Nathan is the right person to lead this club forward.”