Support of Collingwood players key reason for Nathan Buckley contract extension

FOR A coach whose relationships with players have been so heavily scrutinised, there is an irony in the fact they played such a key role in Nathan Buckley’s reappointment.

FOR a coach whose relationships with players have been so heavily scrutinised and at times, criticised, there is a delicate irony in the fact Nathan Buckey’s current crop of footballers played such a critical part in his reappointment for two more years.

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If it hadn’t been for their ringing endorsement in the club’s football department review, he would most likely be looking for a new job right now.

As much as statistics and ladder trajectory might have suggested to many that Buckley had to go; the players insisted that he shouldn’t — and couldn’t.

Nathan Buckley arrives at the press conference to announce his new coaching deal. Picture: Michael Klein

The review, which looked like a millstone for Buckley when it was announced earlier in the season, actually turned out to be his greatest asset.

Collingwood general manager of football Geoff Walsh admitted that the positive feedback from the playing group — and, to an extent, club staff — played a significant role in his recommendation to the board that Buckley win a new two-year deal, despite missing out on the finals for a fourth successive season.

The board, and president Eddie McGuire accepted that.

McGuire admitted today to casting an eye to high-profile alternatives — he stressed he only “looked” and didn’t table any offers or interest — but he kept coming back to what the players had said about Buckley, and how the club had failed to provide him with the right level of support across much of his six years in the role.

In many ways, the easiest decision would have been to replace Buckley. The club hasn’t made finals since 2013, and statistically has gone backwards each year in terms of its ladder position, culminating with a 13th-place finish this year.

His overall record sits at 70 wins from 136 games at almost 52 per cent, but the past three years have yielded only 28 wins amid disappointment and frustration.

Nathan Buckley has the backing of Collingwood players.

Even Buckley conceded that mid-season he thought his chances of winning a new deal were highly unlikely, leading to his comment that it was a “two-way street” about whether he wanted the job.

But, as Walsh stressed today, Buckley is a better coach now than when he started with many admirable qualities and some areas where he needs to improve.

He has learnt to have greater empathy and connection with his players, and while the team hasn’t had a successful season, it has been competitive in almost every game it has played, sometimes frustratingly so.

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Importantly, the club’s strong second half of the season — when the players were clearly playing for him — provided as much evidence as the interviews and surveys that Walsh conducted.

Taylor Adams articulated that immediately after the Magpies knocked off the Demons last Saturday, giving the coach a big pump up ahead of what was expected to be D-Day on his coaching future.

There has been much debate in recent years about just how a good a coach Nathan Buckley is. Over the next two years, we’re about to find out conclusively one way or another.