Why Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley is quitting mid-season

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley has made the bombshell decision to stand down from his role midway through the 2021 season.

Nathan Buckley has stepped down as coach of the Collingwood Magpies.

After nearly 10 years in the role, Buckley informed the Collingwood players and football department of his decision on Wednesday morning.

The Queen’s Birthday clash against Melbourne at the SCG will be his last game as coach of the Magpies.

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The 48-year-old has served as Collingwood coach since succeeding Mick Malthouse in 2012, with the Magpies winning 116 games under his guidance with a 54 per cent winning record.

“Everything has its time and the club and I have reached ours,” Buckley said.

“Graham (Wright) and I have been in conversation consistently in the last few months about what the path forward is for the program and what it needs to progress.

“When it came to the senior coaching role it became clear that a clean slate, for new energies and a new voice, was necessary. So that is what has been decided.

“I’ve loved every moment of my time at the club and in any role I have given my all to it. This program is full of so many great people who are committed and connected to one another absolutely.

“I’ll miss being a part of that but will always feel like a part of me is left with them. I sincerely wish all of the staff, coaches and players every success.”

Magpies assistant Robert Harvey will take over the reigns as interim coach for the remainder of the 2021 season.

Speaking on RSN927 this morning, The Herald Sun’s Jon Ralph called it “an AFL bombshell”.

“No one was expecting this,” he said.

Nathan Buckley is reportedly set to quit.

Why Buckley decided to quit now

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday morning, Collingwood chief executive Mark Anderson said the Board was not willing to keep Buckley on as coach beyond the 2021 season, when his contract expired.

Once that decision was reached, Buckley made the call to step down after Monday’s match in Sydney to give the club clear air.

“I would’ve been happy to coach the year out if the club felt that was best, but coaching this weekend and stepping out is an opportunity for new growth, new voices,” Buckley told reporters on Wednesday.

“That’s an opportunity that should happen as soon as a decision is made. I’m really content with the process.”

Anderson called it “a tough day for the club”, describing Buckley as a “towering figure in the history of Collingwood”.

“We’ve met regularly, focused on 2022, 2023 and beyond, looking at the next three to five years. And as those conversations unfolded, over the last few days, it became clear that Nathan’s time as coach would finish this year,” Anderson said.

“True greatness doesn’t depend on how long or how much or how many but on the legacy of those things. What they stand for. And to Collingwood people Nathan Buckley stands for just about everything they want the black and white striped jumper to represent.

“While we can all see the wisdom in moving on, we know that he will be missed.

“Our discussions were all based around what was good for the club and for Nathan, who reminded us all, regularly, that Collingwood had to come first. That is one of the many reasons why he will be forever Collingwood. On behalf of our club, I thank him.”

As revealed by Fox Sports reporter Tom Morris, Anderson told Collingwood staff via zoom it was a “mutual decision”.

Nathan Buckley was my sporting hero as a kid. This is going to lead to plenty of trolling from Brisbane fans but to me it’s really sad that he never got that premiership as a Collingwood player or head coach. He was 🤏 this close 3 times. I hope he gets it somewhere else. #AFL

— Mark Gottlieb (@MarkGottlieb) June 9, 2021

Quite the shame Collingwood fans in Melbourne can't farewell Buckley in person on Monday.

— Daniel Cherny 📰 (@DanielCherny) June 9, 2021

Buckley stepping down is the ultimate way of ensuring that State of Origin gets pushed to one side today. #AFL

— Alex Fair (@AJFair85) June 9, 2021

Collingwood’s torrid season

Buckley has been under immense pressure following Collingwood’s disappointing start to the season — the Magpies are 16th on the AFL ladder with three wins in the opening 12 rounds.

Radio presenter Gerard Whateley said he felt “quite emotional” after being informed of the news.

“I think Buckley’s presence in the game, his standing not just at Collingwood but more broadly, of course he’s the figure of debate and consternation at various stages, but for what he has achieved in the game, for what he did on the field and for what he’s done over a long period of time, coaching for a decade, the longevity in that,” Whateley told SEN.

“The fact that everyone gave up on him and couldn’t see what he would become as a coach and then in the aftermath of that he took the team to a Grand Final in what was a stirring run and then they botched the Preliminary Final run the following year.

“The Elimination Final win last year was one of the great finals wins by any team in the circumstances.

“Then to live through things as they fell apart in the off-season and it was foreseeable that Collingwood would have the start to the season that it had and casting an eye towards the long-term where the president said last week the next time they would contend is 2024 or 2025.

“Would a coach of 10 years be able to see out that period? The answer was likely no.

“I always thought Collingwood would never sack Nathan Buckley, they wouldn’t have to. He would understand that his time had come and that everyone has their time.”

Nathan Buckley has served as Collingwood coach since 2012.

Buckley’s 10-year coaching stint

Buckley led Collingwood to a grand final in 2018, where the Magpies lost a thriller against West Coast.

That same season, he was named AFLCA Coach of the Year.

Collingwood General Manager of Football Graham Wright thanked Buckley for his contributions to the club.

“Nathan is a person of the highest quality, with great morals and values. In all of our discussions he was only ever interested in ‘the best thing for the football club’ and once we were both clear on that we had further discussions with Mark (Anderson) and the board to finalise how and when was the best time,” Wright said.

“On behalf of the entire club, I want to acknowledge and thank him for his selflessness and utter decency.”

Buckley represented the Magpies for 14 seasons from 1994 to 2007, playing 260 games in the black and white guernsey.

He won the Brownlow Medal in 2003 and Norm Smith Medal in 2002.

Buckley’s exit comes after Eddie McGuire stepped down as Collingwood President in February, while football manager Geoff Walsh and list manager Ned Guy have also departed the club since the end of the 2020 season.

Thanks Bucks 🖤

After almost 10 seasons and 217 matches in charge, Nathan Buckley will coach the team for the last time next Monday when Collingwood meets Melbourne at the SCG.

— Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) June 9, 2021