‘Loosen up’: Nathan Buckley fires back at Collingwood successor

Nathan Buckley and Collingwood coach Craig McRae have exchanged verbal sledges in a cheeky pre-match interview on Fox Footy.

Nathan Buckley and Craif McRae share a laugh on Fox Footy. Photo: Kayo, AFL Photos via Getty.

Worlds collided on Friday night when Collingwood legend Nathan Buckley stepped up to interview his coaching successor Craig McRae.

The new Magpies coach admitted he was nervous in the pre-match interview before his debut as a senior coach as Collingwood opened its season against St Kilda at Marvel Stadium.

McRae may have ben nervous, but he was still relaxed enough to throw some banter at Buckley, who quit as Collingwood coach last year following months of speculation surrounding his uncertain job security at the club.

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Buckley’s move to Fox Footy was the marquee signing in the footy media world during the off-season as he moved on from his time in the coaches box.

Buckley admits he still has a strong emotional connection to Collingwood, but was happy to poke fun of McRae as they exchanged some light-hearted words before the first ball-up.

It all started so unexpectedly warm-and-fuzzy.

Nathan Buckley and Craif McRae share a laugh on Fox Footy. Photo: Kayo, AFL Photos via Getty.

“I’m not trying to pump you up here Bucks, but I will,” McRae said.

“That defensive mindset is something that’s been installed in the players and if anything we need to pull them away from that a little bit to be a bit more attacking.

The defensive nature is really strong in this group.”

When asked by Fox Footy host Gary Lyon if Buckley should be honest in his commentary of the Magpies, McRae cheekily responded: “You can loosen up a bit Bucks, I reckon”.

It got some giggles out of Lyon and panellist Nick Riewoldt.

When the interview was wrapped up, Buckley returned fire.

Fox Footy commentator Nathan Buckley. Photo by Michael Klein.

“Is Fly (McRae) off yet? Well, concentrate on your game Fly,” he said with a smile.

“Six minutes away from your first game as coach, I’ll look after things here.”

Riewoldt also couldn’t resist poking the bear.

“That means we’re going to have a relaxed Collingwood coach after years and years of grumpy Collingwood coaches,” he said, referring to Buckley and former Pies coach Mick Malthouse.

Buckley admitted he still has “skin in the game” when it comes to Collingwood and has “lifelong friends” still at the club.

However, he has already shown that he can speak objectively in his role as an analyst for Fox Footy.

Buckley said he was “stunned” when watching Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge’s explosive press conference on Wednesday night.

“That surprised and amazed me,” he said on Fox Footy after the press conference.

“I just could not believe what I was seeing because that is not what we’ve come to expect. There’s got to be respect both ways. You’ve got to understand there’s jobs to do, it’s a big industry.”

Originally published as ‘Loosen up’: Nathan Buckley fires back at Collingwood successor