Nathan Buckley beats Grand Final opponent for AFL coach of the year

NATHAN Buckley, the AFL’s newly crowned Coach of the Year, says he never lost faith in his own ability even when facing the axe and praised the Magpies for sticking with him.

Nathan Buckley is the AFL coach of the year. Picture: Getty Images

NATHAN Buckley, the AFL’s newly crowned Coach of the Year, says he never lost faith in his own ability even when facing the axe and Collingwood’s extraordinary turnaround from 13th last season to Saturday’s Grand Final against West Coast had been a massive team effort.

Praising his resilient playing group, his re-shaped coaching group, the club for sticking with him, and his wife Tania and sons Jett and Ayce for their support, Buckley said he had evolved as a coach and a person in recent years.

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“I am humbled by the award, to be acknowledged by your peers,” Buckley said at a gala AFL Coaches Association dinner at Peninsula in Docklands.

“This (revival) was 12 months in the making for us, a lot of our players have been through a lot of hardship and have had a kick in the guts. The club itself has had a few kicks in the guts.

“We have had a few challenges thrown in front of us, but we have been able to get to the other side of that.”

Buckley edged out his Grand Final opponent, West Coast’s Adam Simpson, with 344 votes to 271, while Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin was third, with 82 votes.

His success mirrors that of last year’s coach of the year, Richmond’s Damien Hardwick, who also came close to being sacked before leading the Tigers to their first premiership in 37 years.

Nathan Buckley is the AFL coach of the year. Picture: AAP

In accepting the AFL Coaches Association’s Allan Jeans Senior Coach of the Year, Buckley said the changes enacted at the club over the past 12 months had reshaped Collingwood as a more humble organisation.

“We are a stronger club for it ... the personality and characteristics of our club is changing,” he said.

“We are a more humble organisation than we have been.

“We don’t mind if people tell us (we are doing good things), but we don’t need to be telling everyone else.”

He admitted the pressure on his family was tough at times last year when he faced an internal review to keep his job.

“I am blessed, I have great support from family and friends, and from Tania and the boys,” he said.

“The boys in particular are passionate about it, but they go to school ... there is a bit of flack that comes with it when things don’t go well.”

In other awards on the night, Rhyce Shaw, who will join North Melbourne next year, was awarded assistant coach of the year, while two-time Kangaroos premiership coach Denis Pagan was announced as an AFL Coaches’ Association Coaching Legend.