Nathan Buckley dismisses Mick Malthouse’s ‘mini-dynasty’ claims, focused only on Brisbane clash

COLLINGWOOD coach Nathan Buckley has refused to buy into Mick Malthouse’s criticism of him, or reports that eight players tried to delay the Magpies’ coaching handover.

Nathan Buckley at Collingwood training ahead of the Magpies’ match against Brisbane. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

COLLINGWOOD coach Nathan Buckley has refused to buy into Mick Malthouse’s criticism of him and the club this week, or reports that eight players tried to delay the Magpies’ coaching handover.

Speaking at Melbourne Airport ahead of Saturday night’s clash with Brisbane, Buckley said the external issues were not going to help the club arrest its 2-5 win-loss record at the moment.

“I am aware of the comments, and I understand the interest in them right now, but it is five or six years ago, and it is not really going to help us this week,” Buckley said.

Malthouse claimed this week that he believed Collingwood was on the verge of “a mini-dynasty” when he reluctantly handed over the job to Buckley after the 2011 Grand Final loss to Geelong.

Buckley has been steadfast in the past of not responding to Malthouse’s comments, and stuck to that philosophy when quizzed about it on Friday.

He was also reluctant to comment on a report that eight players approached Malthouse during the 2011 season in an effort to retain him as coach for the following season.

“I have heard about it ... that apparent approach by the players, but what I am supposed to do with that,” Buckley said.

“I don’t know it is fact ... I have heard about it a couple of times, but if it happened, I didn’t know about it at the time, and I don’t know that it is categorically true now.”

Nathan Buckley at Collingwood training ahead of the Magpies’ match against Brisbane. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Buckley said he expected a “harder” Collingwood to be on show against Brisbane at the Gabba Saturday night, but it will take on the Lions without out of form forward Travis Cloke.

“He won’t travel,” Buckley said about Cloke, who is nursing a sore back.

“We expect him to be fit to play on Saturday (in the VFL) down in Geelong, but we are not positive of that yet.”

He said the club was pleased to have Taylor Adams, Travis Varcoe and Ben Sinclair back this week, but said Nathan Brown (hamstring) would likely miss three weeks.

He said Ben Reid (shoulder) should be right for next week.