Sunday Shout: Dylan Buckley on his failed footy career and journey into podcasting

While Dylan Buckley’s 41-game AFL career didn’t achieve the type of success he craved, it helped set him up to become one of Australia’s biggest podcasters. He tells Jon Anderson how he did it.

Jon Anderson

4 min read

June 8, 2025 - 12:00PM

News Sport Network

Dylan Buckley has gone from playing footy to hosting one of its most successful podcasts. Picture: Supplied

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While Dylan Buckley’s 41-game AFL career didn’t achieve the type of success he craved, it helped set him up for what has become a very successful foray into the world of podcasting.

Buckley, 39, played 39 games with Carlton from 2012-17 and two at Greater Western Sydney in 2018-19.

JON ANDERSON: Who do you barrack for given you played with Carlton and GWS?

DYLAN BUCKLEY: Both. My wife Justine and I have children Max, 2, and Annie, 1, and I reckon one will barrack for the Blues and the other the Giants. Max loves the Giants’ theme song so maybe he will go that way.

JA: Given you played 39 games with Carlton and just two for GWS, I thought it would be the Blues?

DB: I still love Carlton but had I not gone to Sydney for two years, I’m sure I wouldn’t be doing what I am today. Getting away from home helped me become a man and I loved my time at that club.

Buckley was drafted by the Blues. Picture: Michael Klein

But finished his career at GWS. Picture: Michael Klein

JA: Will you be sitting on the couch on Sunday night throwing things at the TV and screaming if the Bombers beat the Blues?

DB: No, because I still haven’t forgotten how hard it actually is to play in the AFL. I watch the players who are on the edge of selection because that’s where I was.

JA: I’m not sure many other Carlton supporters will follow your lead should they lose to the arch-enemy, Essendon?

DB: Carlton, like a few other clubs, is just one win away from turning its season around. Win on Sunday night and then build momentum and who knows? Players should never forget they are playing for their supporters.

JA: In 2015 you played 18 games and had a good year, so why didn’t you make it?

DB: Apart from ultimately not being good enough, I didn’t have the maturity to process things. I needed to be more proactive than reactive which is what I would tell a young player today. I was selfish and naive, thinking the world revolved around me, rather than: “If it’s to be, it’s up to me.”

Scotland and Buckley in 2013.

JA: Was there one person who helped you in your career?

DB: Heath Scotland was a very tough and firm man on and off the field, an outstanding leader. He made his own decisions. I played my best football under Mick Malthouse.

JA: Your podcast, “Dyl and Friends”, has been a real success story. Where do you rate in the country?

DB: Hamish and Andy are five times bigger than anyone else, and then you may have something like “The Imperfects” and certain crime podcasts. We get listened to by around 400,000 a month. I also do one with Mick Barlow and Brett Deledio.

JA: You must be proud of your old man Jimmy (Carlton champion Jim Buckley who has been sober for four years).

DB: Had you said to me four years ago Dad would achieve that, I may have doubted you, but he has been amazing.

SMITH’S PLACE IN HISTORY

Should Bailey “Bazlenka” Smith continue his unlikely push towards the 2025 Brownlow Medal (given he has come off a knee reconstruction and two so-so years with the Western Bulldogs), he will make an excellent trivia question.

And that will read “which AFL club has produced two Brownlow winners of the same name, that being B.Smith, with Geelong’s Bernie Smith winning from a back pocket in 1951”.

THE NEXT AFL COMMISSION CHAIRMAN?

While embattled AFL Commission chairman Richard Goyder remains steadfast in his desire to continue and eventually choose his successor, Jeff Browne is said to be warming to the prospect of sitting in Goyder’s seat.

And unlike Goyder, Browne, 72, will not be looking at a long stint in the role, more one where he steadies the ship before handing over to someone whose name may be Andrew Pridham.

MONKEY BACKS CLARKO

Damian Monkhorst is convinced North Melbourne is on the right track towards moving up the ladder, and maintains coach Alastair Clarkson is the right man to make that happen.

Monkhorst has worked with Clarkson since the 1990 Collingwood premiership ruckman was lured to Hawthorn as ruck coach in 2009.

And, as the Kangaroos ruck coach now, he says although the club’s onfield fightback has taken longer than expected, he is convinced they are slowly getting there.

“Lots of people judge Clarko (unfairly), but he is so caring of his players and of the organisation,” Monkhorst said.

“People might think of Clarko as being angry, and he might be at times. But the thing about him is he is so loyal and so true blue to what he is doing and what he is to his players.

“It has taken a bit of time (for the Kangaroos to become more competitive), but we are definitely on the right path.”