By Peter Ryan, Jake Niall and Sam McClure
Collingwood and Nathan Buckley believed there was “an appetite for change” that ultimately led to a mutual decision for the club legend step down as senior coach midway through his 10th season at the helm.
Buckley told the football department and players of his decision on Wednesday morning, ending months of speculation about his position, before fronting the media to express gratitude for the opportunity the club had given him.
Buckley’s long-term assistant and friend Robert Harvey will coach out the remainder of the season.
Buckley’s last game as coach will be against Melbourne at the SCG in the moved Queen’s Birthday clash with his departure adding to a huge shift at the Magpies since December with Geoff Walsh departing as football manager, Eddie McGuire stepping down as president and Ned Guy resigning as list manager.
The Pies underperformed this season as they reeled from the tumultuous trade period that ended in Adam Treloar, Jaidyn Stephenson and Tom Phillips leaving in a fire sale.
At a press conference on Wednesday morning with club CEO Mark Anderson and football manager Graham Wright, Buckley said the decision for him to leave as coach was the right one for the club, and while he would have been happy to coach until the end of the year, it was appropriate to finish up on Monday.
Buckley said that he and Wright did their best to remove the external noise and concentrate on what was best for the players and the football club moving forward.
The press conference with Pies CEO Mark Anderson, departing coach Nathan Buckley and club football manager Graham Wright.Credit: The Age
“It’s clear that there’s an appetite for change in the program and I could sense that as well,” Buckley said.
“My messages, my manner, the way that I lead, is established and we had a general sense that it was time for something different, time for something new and something fresh.
“I think that this is the right thing for the football club.”
He said all discussions with club decision-makers had been “transparent”.
“Nothing lasts forever, I was going to be tapped at some stage. No doubt this is the best thing for the football club,” Buckley said.
He expressed his gratitude for his time at the Magpies.
“I feel blessed to be part of this football club for a long period of time,” he said. “In the journey that I’ve shared with Collingwood since … the lessons have been broad.
“I’ve always felt that I’ve always given my all effort to the multiple roles that I’ve played over the last 28 years. It’s sad that’s it’s coming to an end on Monday.”
He was also optimistic about his future but was keeping an open mind on whether he would return to coaching or the media.
“I will go into the blue skies of what the rest of my life will look like,” he said.
“It will always be as a Collingwood supporter and looking outside in.”
Anderson said the decision was the right one for the club and Buckley.
“He has genuinely and authentically had the club’s best interests at heart,” Anderson said.
“Nathan as a person and a leader has huge respect at the Collingwood Football Club and across the AFL industry. It’s the right decision … but it does come with a heavy heart and sadness for us all.”
Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury told reporters he was numb after hearing the news that came as a shock after the club indicated it would leave the decision on Buckley’s future until the end of the season. Both president Mark Korda and Wright had indicated the performances in 2021 had been below par as the Magpies won just three of their first 12 games.
The decision comes as the board faces a challenge from AFL identity Jeff Browne, who asked Korda to move aside last week, a suggestion the current board members were united in rejecting.
Buckley’s departure did not change Browne’s position, with the club facing the prospect of an extraordinary general meeting after member David Hatley collected enough signatures to force an EGM.
“I hope the other issues affecting the club can be resolved quickly,” Browne said.
Although Buckley had made it clear publicly he wanted to continue as coach beyond 2021, internally he had impressed with his emphasis on ensuring that whatever decision was made in regards to his future, it should be made in the best interests of the club.
Buckley succeeded Mick Malthouse as coach in 2012 and took the club to within a kick of a premiership in 2018, with West Coast winning the game with a goal in the final two minutes.
The Magpies then lost the preliminary final to the Giants in 2019 and finished sixth last season after a famous win over the Eagles in Perth. Collingwood and Richmond were the only two clubs to win a final in each of the past three seasons but they sit 16th after just three wins in the first 12 rounds.
With Scott Spits
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